I had just finished talking to Mason about my next blog post on patience as we pulled into the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru line. I groaned as I realized our line was 5 times longer than the other lane. I impatiently tapped on the side door grumbling to Mason for what felt like an eternity before it struck me—aren’t I supposed to be teaching about patience?

It’s hard to be patient when life is frustrating—when nothing seems to be going right and you’ve been in a season of waiting for what feels like forever. It makes us want to throw our hands up and ask, “What are you doing, God?”

Oxford dictionary calls patience “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”

Whew. That’s exactly what it is. Patience asks us to submit our setbacks, griefs, fears, and frustrations to our Sovereign God and His timeline.

Since patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), we know that it’s presence in our lives comes with much discipline and determination. But the only reason we will be convinced to pursue patience is if we see the need for it.

When was the last time you were impatient? Mine was today. It always is.

My heart longs for what I want when I want it, but God’s sanctifying work in my life is teaching me to submit every setback into His Sovereign hands.

As I’ve studied patience this month, I’ve also realized it has a purpose far more grand than waiting for earthly things. Patience teaches us to wait expectantly for heaven.

While we don’t know exactly what heaven will be like, we can have patience for eternity because we believe God’s promises about heaven:

• Jesus is going to prepare a place for us – John 14:2
• God will wipe away every tear. There will be no more death, crying, or pain – Rev 21:4
• It will be paradise – Luke 23:43
• Earthly treasures won’t last there – Matt 6:19-21
• We will see God and worship Him all our days – Rev 22:1-5

What great hope we have! What great reason to be patient and wait for the greater promises yet to come!

But only those who have confessed Jesus as Savior and Lord will have eternal life. There’s no way to earn salvation apart from the blood of Jesus to cover sins.

If you’re a believer today, remember your salvation and remember the hope you have in eternity because of Jesus. Share that hope of the gospel with someone you love.

If you’re not a believer today, trust in Jesus! Confess and believe that He is Lord (Rom 10:9). Your eternity hangs in the balance. All your earthly waiting will mean nothing without the promise of a heavenly home.