How long is too long to wait for something? When you think about it, stress is caused by our inability to wait. Stress does not get thrown onto us. In effect, we choose stress by being impatient.
Write the following life stressors on a piece of paper and then mark the level of stress you feel right now for each: high, moderate or low.
- Finances
- Work
- Commute
- Marriage or primary relationship
- Time management
- Health, diet and exercise
Reflecting on your answers, do you notice an inverse relationship between your patience and stress level? The less patient you are, the more stress you probably feel.
Heck, when I read the definition of patience, I naturally feel less stressed. Patience is quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence. To work towards something with patience is to work calmly, confidently, consistently, behaving as though it will happen. It’s when you steadily, progressively persist with faith that you will accomplish your goal without concern about timing. Happily working while you wait is key the to less stress.
For any good and worthwhile thing, there is an ideal time to receive it. Timing is crucial. Many times, it may be the right thing, but the wrong time. In every area of your life, there is perfect timing. Your education, your job, your marriage, your family, your retirement all have perfect times. That timing is called God’s timing. When you get in front of, or behind, God you induce stress on yourself.
Spiritually maturity is the ability to wait. Faith is waiting for the answer. When you don’t get what you want when you want it, God isn’t necessarily saying “no”. He may only be saying “not now”.
Just keep mindfully working, and listening, while you wait. Eventually, the perfect time will manifest itself, and it will be worth the wait.
MindWolves 