Learning Patience When Life Feels Delayed - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - December 24, 2025
"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near" (James 5:7-8, NIV).
A few weeks ago, I placed a Kroger order with a variety of fresh fruits—apples, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and pineapple. When I cut the pineapple, juice oozed out from every corner. It gave me a bit of a fight while I peeled it, but I knew that one sweet bite would be worth it.
When I took a bite, however, I was sadly disappointed. The fruit looked ripe, but it was far from ready. Instead of soft sweetness, I was met by a complex and sour film. Everything seemed right at first glance, but this fruit was missing something important for its growth: time.
Although the pineapple looked and even smelled delicious, it required patience and time to be ready to eat. No matter how much I may drool over the fruit, look at it, or try to get it to ripen, it would be too late. I had already peeled it, and the damage was done. How many of us approach life this way?
The Lord says it's not time, but we push and prod our way forward. Then, when things get messy, we blame Him. We ask, "Lord, why didn't you make a way? Why did you let things turn out this way?"
In James 5:7-8, we're reminded to be patient for the Lord's coming. Just as a farmer waits for their land to produce a crop, so, too, must we be patient through fall, winter, spring, and summer. Some are longer than others, but all 4 seasons have a purpose. While this passage discusses the Lord's coming, I believe it can also be applied to our everyday lives.
The fruit of patience is difficult to grow and cultivate. If we're honest, we'd rather skip the dosage and have our pineapple right now (or job, or answer to the prayer we've been praying, you fill in the blank). The harsh reality is this: Pushing and prodding will never twist the Lord's hand. He's in control and knows best, even when we fail to comprehend. But we have to trust Him. And trust requires patient endurance over many long and often treacherous seasons.
What are some practical steps for developing this fruit of the Spirit?
First, pray a prayer of surrender and confession. Ask the Lord, as David does in Psalm 139:23-24, to examine your heart and intentions: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (NIV).
Second, praise the Lord for who He is and what you know He's going to do. Even if you're presently struggling with patience, you can praise God for His loving kindness and faithfulness. Psalm 34:1 says, "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (KJV). Praising God in the midst of our struggles helps us to rely on Him more deeply.
Third, ask God boldly for what you need. Instead of trying to force your hand on the Lord's plans for you, ask Him to give you a sense of peace that surpasses all understanding. Then, tell Him what you need. Remember, He's a loving Father who daily bears our burdens and provides for our deepest desires, if they align with His will.
Dear Jesus, learning to cultivate a spirit of patience is so difficult. Especially when it comes to our deepest dreams and desires, and we don't understand the delays. But you, Oh, Lord, know best and have good plans in store for us. When we're tempted to pick the fruit that's not ready, help us to wait. Help us remember that your best is yet to come, and it's worth the patience. As we long for these desires, help us to cultivate the fruits of the spirit as we learn true and utter dependence on you. We love, praise, and thank you, Jesus. Amen.
Photo credit: Couleur/Pixabay
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
