“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways.” (Psalm 37:7, NIV)
We live in a world that moves at breakneck speed. Same-day or instant delivery, binge-watching, and 24/7 connectivity all demand instant or fast results. It can seem as if there’s unrelenting pressure to accomplish everything quickly. However, patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and God frequently works on His own clock. In a culture that promotes haste, How do we grow patience?
Biblical patience is more than simple waiting. It is trusting God’s timing – with a calm heart. Consider Abraham waiting decades for God’s promise of a son (Genesis 15:4-5). His faith faltered at times. But Abraham’s story shows that patience is borne of trust. In the year 2025, we feel the constant weight to “keep up” with all things career, social media, or even spiritual. God is the only one telling us to be “still” and trust in His plan. In practice, challenge yourself to slow down on purpose.
Consider setting aside five minutes in your daily schedule to sit still in silence before the Lord. You might pray or meditate on a verse like Psalm 46:10 Wouldn’t it be great to have this prayer in your heart when we encounter frustration at work, in traffic, or during project delays? A breath prayer like this reminds us to inquire how God might want us to turn our trust in God instead of reacting to the current frustration. I have also found that stepping away from my phone for an hour, while not the whole day, helps put things in perspective. I am trying to focus more intently on God’s presence rather than my to-do.
Patience also means trusting God when we see others “succeed” before us or even as fast as themselves. It is incredibly difficult today, with social media highlighting others, to be envious or sad of the timing of our own lives. Psalm 37 reminds us of the faithfulness of God as we continue with patience. Patience is not passive; patience is consciously choosing trust in God’s perfect timing.