God, Give Us Patience

Are you struggling with patience? Whether it’s the lingering pandemic or another situation in your life that’s making you wait exceedingly long for what you desire from God, most of us encounter something in our heart at some point in our lives that requires growing in patience. 

Many people in the Bible did too. It was a recurring theme: God makes us wait sometimes. He has a plan, and He has His own timing.

I was recently reminded of a poem that my spiritual director has spoken many times to me on patience that may provide some comfort.

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart

and to try to love the questions themselves

like locked rooms and like books that are written

in a very foreign tongue.

Do not now seek the answers,

which cannot be given you

because you would not be able to live them.

And the point is, to live everything.

Live the questions now.

Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it,

live along some distant day

into the answer.

– Rainer Maria Rilke

A wise mentor recently spoke to me on this topic and said “Be grateful for the little bridges God gives you while you are waiting.” 

Despite all my longing for culmination to the questions and longings of my heart and the joy and fulfillment I think they will bring, I got to thinking that perhaps what she said is the answer to the problem of having patience that we all face:

Gratefulness for the gifts of today and

Little bridges to carry us along the way.