Childish Impatience

Do the words ‘Are we there yet’ sound familiar? I suspect every child goes through that stage, especially when they are in a car on a longer trip. I can still find myself being impatient at a stop sign, at a checkout stand, at a restaurant, or the like. I don’t know why that is, but I highly suspect everyone finds themselves impatient at some point.

When talking about God answering prayers, someone recently commented about their impatience when God doesn’t answer our prayers. Moses became impatient with God when he said, “Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” Exodus 5:23 (NLT2) He thought God should have delivered His people from Egypt immediately, and since God did not respond that way, Moses impatiently exploded against God. While impatience is childish, adults also can display childish impatience. It reckons that God’s actions must be compressed into my time schedule and must be done in my way. Childishness is essentially trying to bring God down to earth and forcing Him to obey earthly laws instead of the laws of heaven.

Is our problem with time or with our need to control God? When impatience raises its childish head within us, it is a red light on our dashboard telling us something is misaligned within us. Nothing stops our pouting like a good look in the mirror. Jesus tells us to abide in Him (His presence) and not to think or act independently of Him. I dislike it when my impatience shows, and I must admit that my arrogant attitude challenges God’s integrity, wisdom, and most certainly His authority over me.

When I humble myself and recognize His presence in my life in that moment of time, I find it much easier to say I’m sorry for acting like a child. I want to be proactive as His child and regularly communicate with Him and so delight in His presence. How do I know that? I went through that very process while sitting in a hospital room, all dressed and ready for a doctor to come to dismiss me. When I was able to get realigned with Him, I felt so much better and enjoyed His presence in the room. James tells me, “But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:25 (NLT2)

That is why I must use my Bible constantly, not only for what it tells me about God, but for what it tells me about myself! The Bible, like my mirror, is my truest friend. It tells me what I need to know to be proactive and move forward instead of looking in my rearview mirror at my failures. That is what spiritual maturity looks like.

Acknowledging my humanity does not mean I must grovel in my failure. Rather, it reminds me to get back up and take positive action to follow Jesus’ example. Skinned knees are not fun, but they can serve us well when we thank God we don’t have to deal with a broken leg.

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