When driving from town to town the past few weeks, I’ve encountered a few places that are trying to finish up some road construction projects. Now, if you are aware that there might be delays, you can plan accordingly and leave 10 minutes earlier that you normally would to get to your destination on time, but if you were not aware of these delays, you will probably be running later than planned. You may be travelling and come to find out that a stretch of road on your route is closed and have to take a detour, which happened to me a few months ago and I was left calculating how much I would have to backtrack, and decided to take an unknown gravel section around and it worked out well without too much delay. The same can happen when you run into the store to grab a few things and find yourself 5 people deep in line to check out, and your patience is tested again. Which delays bother you the most, and why?
But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 5:9
If you are much like me, I generally like to be efficient and don’t always give myself much margin between work appointments, and this often included drive time. I say ‘if I leave by this time, I should be able to get there on time”, and try to plan accordingly. But sometimes things do not always play out how we plan. We get delayed for various reasons, or our transition time has a few snags. How do you react when things don’t go your way, at work, at home, on any given day? Its pretty natural to get upset, blame other people, or react in a way that is not very kind. I find that if I set my attitude before I encounter delays and distractions, my reactions are much better. I can laugh at the change of plans instead of becoming upset at them. If I pray for the construction worker as I drive by instead of grumbling, then everyone has a better day. May you find more margin and patience in your life today and every day as you put others needs before your own.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Yours in Christ,
Clark
