“2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NKJV).

Letting patience have its perfect work is easier said than done. So many times we look at our lives and circumstances with a hurried mindset. We cannot wait to get married or drive a car. Yet, with these new blessings come greater responsibility. God and our parents know when we are ready. I recently was a little discouraged that the book I am working on wasn’t going as fast as I would like. After writing most of it, I kept seeing more to write about. God is trying to help me to slow down and prepare me for when it comes out. And it will be in His timing. When He is through showing me things I need to know. While I was writing this post, scriptures related to patience and waiting came to mind.

Psalms 27:14 states, “13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Also, I recently had the privilege to read a devotional from a book entitled The Jesus Calling. The first words of this devotional were waiting, trusting, and hoping. My first reaction was that Jesus must want me to embrace the discipline of patience and waiting. I am amazed how God will confirm things He wants to teach and remind us. He is such a great and awesome God.

Trusting and hoping are essential qualities that should be added to patience. We wait, trusting in God’s goodness and good plan for our lives. This faith or confidence gives us hope. It also helps us to have a good attitude when life is not as good as we would like.