A New Chapter (Part 4): The Road Less Traveled

shortcuts

Discovering a shortcut is one of life’s most satisfying experiences. Whether you find a quicker way to get somewhere, to cook dinner, or complete some other remedial task, it’s like finding a “life hack”. It’s as if you’ve inched just a little bit closer to the right side of living. That’s why it should come as no surprise that we find ourselves bombarded with countless ads & infomercials that target this very desire.

In many ways, the world around us operates like an ongoing infomercial of its’ own—constantly enticing us with one thing after another. With a classic bait-and-switch technique, we’re lured into a never-ending pursuit of some new thing, lifestyle, etc., that “we have to have” in order to be fulfilled.

Given enough time & patience, we’re able to see right through these illusions. Which is why the pace of this world continually leads us in the opposite direction. “HURRY!” is the essential oil that the world continues to sell. Because Hurry leaves no room for patience. Hurry ensures our attention stays diverted. Hurry guarantees—

our God-Given dreams are deserted.

Matthew 7:14 (NIV) says:

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

When it comes to meaningful outcomes in life, there are no shortcuts. Every dream we have in our faith, finances, relationships, aspirations…all require patience. On some level, we all know that to be true. We know that “patience is a virtue”, a virtue we unquestionably need.

So why do we neglect it?

Why is there a disconnect between what we know and how we live? Because for many of us, patience is a 1/2 truth. It’s something we’ve acknowledged in our head, but not accepted in our heart. Jesus tells us in John 8:31(ESV) that those who “abide in His word…will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth is, we can be set free from the pace of this world; a pace which undermines the very things we value most. We don’t have to go another day robbed of the blessing of patience. With God’s help, we can refuse to live rushed. He can show us the narrow road that leads to a life well-lived. He can give us the willingness to take the path less traveled. And—

The patience to see it through.

A Refusal to rush

There’s a reason that wise people recommend that you “sleep on big decisions”. Because big decisions carry major considerations & consequences. They require time to think things through. Patience is one of those big things in life, it’s worthy of your time & consideration.

When you study this fruit of the Spirit, you discover how wide-ranging this quality is. It’s a “decided slowness in avenging wrongs”, it’s “a willingness to endure, especially in times of trouble”. And as the Greek definition states, it’s a “constancy”, a quality that should constantly be exercised in every meaningful area of life.

When you recognize how important something is, you treat it differently. My hope is that God reveals the importance of this quality. That you embrace it with an open mind & heart. And ultimately, your life & the lives of those around you will be changed for the better.

Your Wardrobe

It’s common to hear people say, “I’m not a patient person”. They refer to patience as if it’s a quality they simply don’t possess. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Colossians 3:12 (NLT) says:

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

God’s telling us point-blank, that because He’s chosen us, we are now capable of making a different choice. Where we lack patience in our natural self—

we find more than enough in our new self.

God wouldn’t ask us to wear something that wasn’t in our wardrobe. That’s why He instructs us to clothe ourselves in patience. Because patience is a quality and a choice. Because of Christ, it’s embedded in our God-given garment. The question isn’t whether you have it. The question is—

are you willing to wear it?

Your Depth Finder

There’s plenty of people you can enjoy good times with, but only a few that you can endure hard times with. Which is why most of us are able to count (on one hand) the number of deep & intimate relationships we have. Those relationships don’t happen by accident, nor do they remain that way without intentional effort. Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) tells us exactly what it takes to create & maintain that quality of depth. It says:

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”

In every healthy relationship, there’s margin to be found. You find two people that love & respect each other. They don’t enable each other’s faults, they make appropriate allowances for their shortcomings. In humility, gentleness, and patience–

you find a healthy margin for error.

Let-downs & hurt feelings are inevitably part of the relational experience. Margins that are rooted in Godly patience are the grounds that lead to corrective growth & deeper-developed intimacy over time. Patience is a buffer, it’s the means by which you find a harmonious balance. Patience is—

your depth finder.

Your Picture

One of the most widely accepted beliefs is this idea of “making it happen”. You want something in life? You’ve got to make it happen. You find this same line of thinking when you look back at the Israelite people, whom God delivered from Egyptian slavery.

The Israelites wanted to hear from God, which is a good thing. But they lost patience waiting for Moses to bring Word from God down from the mountain, so they took matters into their own hands. They wanted a god so bad, they melted a community’s worth of gold & forged a false god to worship. They thought they were making it happen, but in reality—

they were making a mess.

God had a beautiful picture in mind for the Israelite nation. A Promised Land, where He would enrich them beyond measure. The problem for many of them was this, they didn’t have the patience to trust God to guide them there.

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Hebrews 10:23 (NLT)

Our patience, or lack thereof, is painting a picture for our life. Eventually, what we prioritize is going to show. And so will the things we take for granted. If you don’t like the picture you see, take a look at what you’re painting with.

There are some things you can’t force; some things you shouldn’t force. Let God guide you into the patience required to see those areas with clarity. Let patience propel you into the Promises of God that you have in Jesus.

let patience paint your picture.

impossibly hard

There’s hardly a day that goes by where some person or some problem doesn’t test our patience. And at times, living with patience doesn’t seem practical or even possible. But when we look to Jesus, we find another perspective.

When you look at Jesus on the day He was crucified, you find a man falsely accused, charged, and sentenced to the worst death possible. A man beaten senselessly & mocked by one person after another. And then ultimately nailed to a cross, hanging between two criminals that He should have never been in the company of.

Under the most excruciating pain, we find patience personified. We see Jesus fully embody a “willingness to endure, especially in times of trouble” The Bible tells us that Jesus willingly accepted our shame & remained on the cross. Jesus prayed for forgiveness on behalf of those who mocked Him. And then Jesus assured one of the criminals beside Him that “he [the forgiven criminal] would be with Jesus in paradise that very day”. All of which took place—

during his worst day.

Jesus told us “what is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). And then He showed us that truth on the cross. He did the impossible so that all things could be made possible for us. Patience is possible because—

god prepared the way.

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today’s Takeaways

Patience is in our god-Given Garment.
Let patience paint your picture.
God has prepared the way for us.

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