Practicing Patience with God
Theme for Week Four
Reflection By Scott Stoner
Patience is trust lived.
- Steven Charleston
In this last week of Advent we turn our attention to practicing patience with God. Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit named in Galatians, Chapter 5, which reminds us that patience is a natural outgrowth of our spiritual lives. Just as we can grow in our practice of being more patient with ourselves and with others, so too can we deepen our faith in God’s timing in a way that manifests itself as enhanced patience and trust.
The Gospel for yesterday, the fourth Sunday of Advent, describes the patience and trust exhibited by both Mary and Elizabeth as they wait to see what God has in store for them and their soon-to-be-born babies. As Steven Charleston wrote in yesterday’s reflection, “Patience is trust lived,” which is a perfect description of Mary and Elizabeth.
The idea that patience is trust lived in our lives both awakens and challenges us. It’s one thing for me to think I am a patient person and trust God; it’s quite another to manifest that in the way I live my life. I wonder if people who know me well would describe me as a person who exhibits patience and trust in God? I wonder how much it shows in the way I treat others and the way I order my life? I invite you to join me in reflecting on how practicing patience with God manifests itself in your life during this final week of Advent.
Making It Personal: What do you think of Steven Charleston’s idea that “patience is trust lived”? Do you think others would describe you as a person who exhibits patience and trust with God? What spiritual practices help you to be more patient with God?
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Follow along with us this Advent season with our daily devotional and engage in discussion in our closed facebook group moderated by Robbin Brent, Carolyn Karl, Jan Kwiatowski, and Scott Stoner.
In this group, participants will have a chance to share their responses to the prompts in the daily readings, and also the chance to receive additional material for reflection.