The Power of Patience. 5.29.2025

     Patience and procrastination are not the same thing. Patient people are often criticized for being indecisive, reluctant, and yes, procrastinating. Patience is none of those things and when we begin to invest in good processes, we will find that the time spent in choosing and maintaining our tools, laying the groundwork, and doing the right things the right way has enormous benefits. The first of which is that we can be patient. 

    Patience is a long-term strategic commitment. Patience requires self-control and the capacity to lay out a course of action over many weeks, months, and even years. We do not tend to think of patience as anything more than a psychological disposition, a personal commitment to not be overwhelmed or distracted by events. This is only partly true. In fact, this is really the outcome of patience. A person who has control of her tools, workflow, goals, intention, and schedule need not panic under duress because it is already accounted for. 

    A patient worker cares for his or her tools because those tools are more efficient and yield more effective work. A patient worker understands that there are times when their energy or outlook is not conducive to creative or elaborate production, and they have set aside tasks that do not require much energy or creativity. Patient people work hard at preparing the soil understanding that only God can produce a harvest. Above all patient people take their job and all essential tasks seriously. Preaching the gospel is not a game or a performance. Ministry should not be staged. In preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ we are answering His call to make and teach disciples. If we work with diligence patience, we will be able to spend many fruitful years at the task. The power of patience is one of the factors that helps the preacher decompress and de-stress. 

    Christians do not expect to hear the whole counsel of God every single Sunday. If a Church does have that unrealistic expectation they have been badly taught and have likely worn out many preachers who never had a moments peace because others had seized control of their ministry. Do not let that happen. Work with preparation, diligence, intent, anticipation, and a long-term framework. Prayerfully and forthrightly teach your congregation a Biblical understanding of ministry with well-preached, effective sermons as the primary deliverable. It may take time, but the result will be the ability to take a measured and patient approach to the work.