How To Have More Patience

Have you ever prayed for something you later regretted? I did that recently. My drive to work is one of my prayer times. I always pray that God will put a guard over my mouth, a filter from which only thoughtful and kind words can pass. The Lord knows I need a filter! Praying this makes me a little more aware of my words, although I must admit that many times I could do better. I like to pray this. But recently I took it a step further.

Work can be incredibly busy. It is stressful to have so many people and tasks all clamoring for my attention. Often my frustration levels rise as my patience with the endless demands plummets. I was driving to work and thinking about the probability of facing another crazy day. But maybe it would be a quiet day. We don’t say the “Q” word at a hospital!

I began to pray, “Lord, help me to be patient today and to convey a spirit that displays your character.” Then I thought for a moment. “But,” I continued in the next breath, “Please don’t let anything happen to try my patience today. Let it be a good day.” Whaaaaat???

Now, there is nothing wrong with praying for a good day. But on the heels of praying for patience, I’m sure God was laughing at me. And if God had been a true southern boy, I think He would have said, “Hold my beer and watch this.” Hahaha…maybe not exactly like that, but God did answer my prayer. Not the second one. The first one.

It was a horrible day. I had a very difficult assignment that ran me ragged all day. I honestly could not keep up with all the tasks that needed to be done. Three babies with low blood sugars, a new mom with uncontrolled bleeding, several new patients and discharges, moms needing help with breastfeeding, two different hallways of running back and forth, and getting off a full hour late because I did not have time to chart. God was smiling at me in amusement. Have you ever heard the expression, “Be careful what you pray for”?

I’m glad I can be honest with God about how I feel, but I also have to admit I had asked for it! How did I honestly expect patience to happen? If nothing happened to try my patience, then how could I exhibit patience? And I’ll admit I did complain a little that my assignment was too much. But I did the best I could. And later (after it was over), I took a deep breath and thanked God for his obvious way of showing me that He hears my prayers. Even the ones I regret praying.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This passage tells me that patience isn’t something that is passively bestowed upon my character. It’s not something I can just ask for. It happens only by pushing forward with faith and a will that is fully yielded to God. That is the part where I am to “let perseverance finish its work.” I can choose NOT to let it work in my life by continuing to respond in a way that dishonors God. And, sadly, I have done that many times.

The development of patience in my life happens through God working in my spirit to develop it. And how does He work that in me? Through trials. Through struggles. Through frustrations. It definitely is not a fun process. But the end result is so worth it: “So that [I] may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Wow! I have a long way to go. But I want God to work this into my life so that I can be mature and complete. So, although I’m not brave enough to pray for bad days, maybe I’ll at least stop praying for good days. Jesus-filled days. Maybe that’s what I need to pray for.