Stop Pushing the Elevator Button

Patience is rooted in the confidence that God is sovereign.

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I went out this past week with an old friend. We had plans to grab lunch and head to one of the local vineyards for a picnic.  She suggested we go to Greenwood Grocery. It is a local place, filled with farm-fresh produce, and they make the most delicious sandwiches. 

So, as planned we headed there straight from her church. Standing in our Sunday best we glossed over the menu and settled on their roasted portabella mushroom and pepper French bread and pimento cheese creation. We were told the wait would be about twenty minutes, so we chose to browse the store. We could not help being hungry as neither of us had bothered to eat anything before church, and it was now way past noon. The aroma from the kitchen contributed significantly to our appetites, and the place was filled with people who had the same idea as us. 

After about thirty minutes our food was still not ready. We walked outside amongst the herbs and pottery, taking in everything the place had to offer. We then reentered, assuming that by now surely our names would be called. I started to pace and get antsy. My friend was doing a way better job at hiding her frustration than I was. Another ten minutes went by and nothing. Name after name was being called but to no avail nothing for either of us.  I finally expressed my irritation in waiting so long and wanted to head to the counter to ask where our food was. 

My friend then turned to me and said, “It will be just like pressing the elevator button.” I laughed, and she continued with her wisdom. “You know, standing there pressing the button over and over like it will make the elevator actually come any quicker.” 

I knew exactly then that God had provided what I was to share with all of you. 

We as women have the tendency to keep pressing the elevator button when we want God to do something. We sometimes, regrettably, are just too impatient to wait. We just keep pressing the button like somehow it will make a difference, and I hate to say it, but God is a Father and maybe when we press and press the button the lesson is not always the answer but the ability to learn to wait for it.

We as human beings at times want to rush things instead of perfecting them. We want the quick way out of a situation instead of thoughtfully discerning what may actually BE THE WAY. We just stand there pushing the button over and over and over wondering where God is and why He can’t just hurry up.

Most of us as Christian women recognize that patience is one of the cardinal Christian virtues—we’re just in no hurry to obtain it. Others will define patience as a delay in getting what we want.  Today our society is soaked in being self-centered and patience, unfortunately, is rapidly on the decline.

However, patience is not optional for us as Christian women. The apostle Paul repeatedly commanded Christians to demonstrate patience. In fact, the authenticity of patience is something expected by God.  True Christian character, the very evidence of transformation, can only be seen in authentic patience. Patience makes our world more holy and beautiful. 

In the New Testament, Paul instructs the Ephesians to, “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3).

The biblical understanding of patience as a Christian virtue is rooted in the totality of Christian truth. Patience begins with the affirmation that God is sovereign and in control of human history, working in human lives. With eternity on the horizon, time takes on an entirely new significance. We as women need to understand that full satisfaction will never be achieved in this life, but instead, we need to cast our eyes on the things to come. Furthermore, we know that our sanctification will be incomplete in this life, and as Daughters of the King, we must look to each other as fellow sinners that are only saved by grace.

Patience is a divine gift from God. Patience is rooted in the confidence that God is sovereign. Not pushing the elevator button over and over brings all things to completion in a way that shows we understand that He is the one who completes them… not us.

With this in mind, I encourage you to seek patience. I encourage you to wait on God to answer. He hears our prayers and sees our struggles.  Patience is a true attribute of Christ and as women, we can demonstrate to others that the ability to wait brings forth perseverance and the goal of unity with all believers. This to me is the true feast. Let us be hungry for that.

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

 

 

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Holy Beautiful Life

Featured Image by Daniel Nettesheim from Pixabay

 

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Jennifer Howard is a Kingdom Winds Collective Member and Founder of The Holy Beautiful Ministry for Women.