Patience

“Become imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:12

Will today be the day? Maybe. It is increasingly likely, thought not certain, that Joe Biden will be declared the winner of the presidential election. That won’t be the end of the story, of course, but it will bring some resolution to our current state of suspended animation. Then again, I thought yesterday might be the day, and here we still are. It takes time to count votes, and we may have to count them twice. We have to be patient.

Patience is a virtue, they say, but an elusive one. I would not say that patience is one of my natural spiritual gifts. Waiting to open presents on Christmas morning is a source of deep anfechtung in my life. How much more impatient I am when it comes to things that really matter! I am ready for this pandemic to end, for this election to end, for racism and all forms of oppression to end.

Note how the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews pairs patience with faith. Patience, perhaps, is not grounded in our ability to wait but in our faith that God will fulfill God’s promises in God’s time. As you wait today, for whatever you wait, keep the faith.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God of the promise, let us look to Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. In his dying and rising, let us see the depth and breadth of your love. In your Spirit’s grace, hold us gently while we wait. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: The boys with last week’s Sunday school-at-home projects. Noah and those animals had to be patient with one another!