I spent the Tuesday and Wednesday going through the process of jury selection. I was not ultimately chosen to serve on the jury, but selection for the case took two full days.
It was not the most efficient process in the world. I heard several jurors making comments about how the process could be sped up, and I had several suggestions of my own.
It was clear that doing things properly, according to the law is more important in this process than doing them efficiently. Every time we were told something would take 10 minutes, it took 30. Every time we were told to return at a certain time, we sat and waited far past the agreed upon time.
Most people sat on their phones or read a book. There was not much to do but wait.
The Bible invites us to wait for the Lord dozens of times. The need for patience on the road of faith is not new. It has been needed for a thousand generations. Abraham and Sarah waited decades for God to fulfill His promise. David waited years to take the throne. Simeon waited and waited to meet baby Jesus. The disciples wait 10 days after Jesus’ ascension for the Holy Spirit to arrive.
The hurry of humanity is not new. Waiting stinks. It’s something very few humans do well. Yet, patience is not just a virtue, patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Not a gift, mind you. A fruit. The gifts of the Spirit from Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 are distributed differently amongst God’s people. You may have some gifts but not others.
The fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5 are fruits the Holy Spirit seeks to grow in all Christians. It’s not as if some are called to love, joy, and peace but not patience, gentleness, and self-control. All these fruits of the Spirit are for all of God’s people. Sure, some may come easier than others, but you cannot dismiss patience as something you do no possess as if it is a gift like prophecy or speaking in tongues.
Patience is for all. The Spirit seeks to cultivate patience in all of us. The Spirit reminds us of this need for patience dozens of times in the Scriptures.
I know that doesn’t make it any easier. But don’t try to exempt yourself from patience When you do have to wait, consider it a lesson the Holy Spirit is teaching you in the school of experience.
Be Curious (and patient).
Ask Questions.
Andy