How We Wait Can Make a Difference

“Just waiting” can seem futile at times; but “waiting with faith” is a powerful strategy for change.

Recently I’ve been discussing the importance of patience, and dissecting some thought-provoking quotes related to patience. Today I’d like to focus on two more quotes related to patience. I hope you find them helpful.

“Patience is not a virtue, it is an achievement.”

I love this quote because it highlights the fact that patience takes work. It doesn’t really come easily to most people. I think we forget that sometimes.

In effect, we become impatient with our quest to display patience!

I would actually alter this quote to say: Patience is both virtue and achievement, because virtue, in my mind, can almost be translated as “a spiritual or enlightened state for which we strive.”

We strive for patience, and when we are able to reach it then we can transcend other daily human pitfalls such as anger, jealousy, self-criticism, and the foolish act of abandoning dreams we once held very close to our hearts.

Impatience is a very human trait—both flawed and often counterproductive—but patience is something else. An angelic trait, something we can lean on because of faith. Patience, when found, is something that allows us to move forward calmly or joyfully because we can see a beautiful end result that might not yet be visible to the naked eye.

It takes faith to be patient. But it also takes work. It takes practice. And when we are able to be patient—with others, with ourselves, with our goals, and with our healing—then we have found a way to merge the human and divine so that we can transcend our difficulties even as we are in the midst of them.

Patience is not only the ability to wait. But the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.

This is a great quote, as it highlights the importance of what we do with our minds and with our time as we are waiting. It touches upon the importance of time (waiting), but also on the importance of being an active participant in the creation of our future (keeping a good attitude, and a productive focus).

Even if a person is enduring a rough day and is forced to cope while waiting for symptoms to pass, there are positive coping mechanisms and negative ones.

Even as we are waiting for the storms to pass in other areas of life—or even as we are waiting for guidance from God—there is a choice regarding what we do as we wait.

As you wait, put your focus into a productive place.

Taking this quote a step further, I would adjust it thusly: Patience is not only the ability to wait, but the ability to care for oneself and stay busy in a productive way while waiting. It is the ability to maintain faith while waiting.

Maybe you are waiting for the results you want. Have faith while waiting. Stay close to God, and care for yourself while waiting. Set small goals for yourself while waiting.

Be grateful while waiting. Believe that your waiting will result in something good. Imagine the good that will come to you. As you exercise, or sit at work, or drive, or lay in bed, picture the good that will come in your future.

Going forward, as you care for yourself and work on any goals, remember to also be patient with yourself and your progress. Keep taking consistent steps forward, and know that they are bringing you somewhere special!

Take care until next time,

Michael