Today our society seems very impatient compared to the those of ancient times, or are they. Since I really did not live back then, I really cannot compare. So lets look at the past 40 or so years.
In the 60s/70s everything seemed more relaxed. There were the Blue Laws that prevented stores from being open on Sunday. People attended church, they drove a little slower. They appeared not to be in a rush to get from point A to point. They ate dinner together. The visited people and actually spent time with them. Family was important. Rarely did people go over the speed limit and there were hardly any tailgaters. People obeyed the traffic laws.
Then I remember the late 70s to the early 80s and it seemed like everything changed. There were computers, faster cars, more stores, malls, people had to drive further, the latch key kids started, people ate on the go, and they appeared to grow more impatient. If you sped and were going 6 mph over the speed limit, you actually got a ticket. There were a few tailgaters, but it was not common. People feel like the traffic laws are a nuisance, but they still somewhat obey them.
Move into the 90s and the 2000s and it seems like it only got worse. Now we have high speed internet and people get upset if it what use to take a minute or longer does not happen in 1 second. People hardly ever eat together. They do not really visit each other, but now communicate through Facebook or Twitter or text. They go t10, 15, and even 20+ mph over the speed limit and the police will rarely give you a ticket. When they do, these people have the nerve to get upset. Traffic laws are a nuisance. People feel like they have the right to do what they want, when they want, and how they want regardless of how it may hurt themselves or someone else.
Who is to blame? We all are. I am impatient at times and unfortunately, I think I have passed some of these terrible behaviors onto my children. I get frustrated when stuff on the internet moves at a super slow pace. I get frustrated when I am driving and passing in the left lane and a person comes over for no reason and passes at a super slow pace or they are in the left lane initially going under the speed limit. I get frustrated with tailgaters when I am going the speed limit. I get frustrated when there is snow on the ground and these people drive like it is dry. I get frustrated when things should only take second to a few minutes, but instead take hours. I get frustrated when there are incomplete directions. I get frustrated when people think they are entitled to the same things as I, when I have worked my tail off and they just sit at home to collect government checks. I hope you get the picture and when I say I get frustrated, I really mean I am impatient.
Why am I so frustrated? It is my own expectations of how things should happen and the inability of whatever it is to meet that expectation. So who is to blame for my frustration? ME.
It is that simple. If you want more patience, then pray for it. However, be prepared to get frustrated a lot. That is what I pray for and I have to say that based on my own expectation of how I should behave, I would give myself a failing grade. I ask for patience and God provides me with the opportunity, but instead of embracing that, I get even more frustrated. So decide what is you really want, then pray for it.
I pray that if you are seeking patience, that the Lord will provide you your request. I also pray that you are able to recognize that God is granting your prayer and instead of getting frustrated, you are able to embrace the test to learn. In Jesus name I pray for these things, Amen.