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: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | Midweek Prayer (John 14:1–6)
When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again.
This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before God.
Jesus reminds us that we are not alone—that He is with us, that He is preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us. As we pray, we ask for help to trust Him more deeply and to follow Him in the way He has already made clear: to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Take a few quiet minutes to slow down, listen for God’s invitation, and rest in the presence of the One who leads us in truth and life. If you like what you hear, follow So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
