Here is a welcome antidote from Dr Gil Stigliez to the usual prescription regarding the need for patience, that old funny (often stated quite seriously) which is “Don’t ask for it, or else God will give you situations where you have to have it.” Although there is a difference between gifts and fruit, I always figured the dictum from James, “if you need wisdom, ask for it and you will get it” (1:5; 3:17), meant you would in fact be given a measure of it, not have to go through rigorous divine aversion training to acquire it!
So here is a spiritual exercise of actual prayer and reflection that could be very useful to the impatient Christian.
Patience
Ask God to show you the size and fullness of the box that He has you in
Ask God to make you understand that He wants you to stay in His box without cheating your way out
Ask God to keep you from becoming despondent or depressed when the box doesn’t open or expand
Ask God to keep you energized with the tasks you are to complete in the box
Ask God to remind you to allow God the time He wants or needs to open or expand the box
Ask God to show you all the adjustments to the box you can make
Ask God to show you clearly why the box is the size it is and how to endure its size
Ask God to cause you to keep pushing forward and seeing if the box will expand or open… not give up
Ask God to deflect and strengthen you to resist temptation in the midst of the sameness
