A young man was driving a pastor to a service in the next town. The youthful driver had his streamlined roadster hitting seventy miles an hour.

The pastor leaned over, “Aren’t we going a little too fast?”

“Oh don’t you believe in a guardian angel, pastor? He’ll take care of us.”
“Yes,” the pastor replied. “He would if he was here, but I’m afraid we left him miles back!”

This is an interesting and enlightening story that I came across months ago. Talking about young and restless drivers, you may think they are all lack of patience. But, I am sure this is not just youthful drivers’ privilege; in fact, if you have ever driven on freeway, I bet you will have opportunities to meet some “speedy” drivers from all ages.

Under nowadays’ “busy” environment, “speed” seems to be the king over everything else. Have you ever seen the advertisement “Bigger and Better; Faster and Easier”? Look at all the “McDonald”, “Burger King”, “Wendy” fast-food chain stores flourish around our community; how about high speed internet, high speed computers, etc.? They quickly become indispensible necessities in our daily living. To carry one step further at my work place, I was often being asked by my colleagues, “If you have to guess, can you give me a quick and dirty estimate for this problem?” Ha! “Where is the virtue of patience?” I told myself.

We all know that patience is a virtue and it is the ability to endure waiting, delay or provocation without being annoyed or upset, according to the Dictionary. The Bible teaches us that patience is one of the fruits from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Rev. G. Campbell Morgan once said, “Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.” He indicates to us that patience is an ability of waiting for God’s instructions. The book of Ecclesiastes also teaches us that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Therefore, we need to wait for God’s timing and be patient.

In recent week’s daily Bible reading, we are studying the book of Isaiah. I don’t know whether you have noticed or not there is one name being appeared repeatedly. It is the “Holy One of Israel (以色列的聖者)”. It represents God’s character attribute and He wants His chosen people, Israelites, to be holy because He is holy.

Now let me ask you a simple question, “Among God’s creations, who is the most patient person?”

Do you know the answer? Let me give you a hint. He is always waiting patiently for his moments – whether it is our frustration or we are experiencing life storms; we are in celebration or are proud of our victory – to pry open and get inside our heart with his treacherous implement. He is not easily discouraged; he is invisible and could be anywhere and any moment without sleeping to wait for us. Isn’t he the most patient person? By now you probably know the answer – he is the “Evil One”. His patience is to “destroy” our patience in waiting for God’s timing and instructions. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, please be aware of the Evil One is diligently working on tearing down our faith in God. We have to put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

Below is a list of collected promises (not meant to be exhaustive) that our God has given to us when we are waiting for Him patiently:

我們的心向來等候耶和華．他是我們的幫助、我們的盾牌。(Psalm 33:20)

你當默然倚靠耶和華、耐性等候他．不要因那道路通達的、和那惡謀成就的、心懷不平。(Psalm 37:7)

因為作惡的、必被剪除．惟有等候耶和華的、必承受地土。(Psalm 37:9)

我曾耐性等候耶和華．他垂聽我的呼求。(Psalm 40:1)

我等候耶和華、我的心等候．我也仰望他的話。(Psalm 130:5)

你不要說、我要以惡報惡．要等候耶和華、他必拯救你。(Proverbs 20:22)

耶和華必然等候、要施恩給你們．必然興起、好憐憫你們．因為耶和華是公平的　神．凡等候他的都是有福的。(Isaiah 30:18)

但那等候耶和華的、必從新得力、他們必如鷹展翅上騰、他們奔跑卻不困倦、行走卻不疲乏。(Isaiah 40:31)

凡等候耶和華、心裡尋求他的、耶和華必施恩給他。(Lamentations 3:25)

至於我、我要仰望耶和華、要等候那救我的　神．我的　神必應允我。(Micah 7:7)

我要將我父所應許的降在你們身上．你們要在城裡等候、直到你們領受從上頭來的能力。(Luke 24:49)

耶穌和他們聚集的時候、囑咐他們說、不要離開耶路撒冷、要等候父所應許的、就是你們聽見我說過的。(Acts 1:4)

但我們若盼望那所不見的、就必忍耐等候。(Romans 8:25)

我們靠著聖靈、憑著信心、等候所盼望的義。(Galatians 5:5)

等候所盼望的福、並等候至大的　神、和我們救主耶穌基督的榮耀顯現。(Titus 2:13)

因為他等候那座有根基的城、就是　神所經營所建造的。(Hebrews 11:10)

弟兄們哪、你們要忍耐、直到主來。看哪、農夫忍耐等候地裡寶貴的出產、直到得了秋雨春雨。(James 5:7)