Don't Get Discouraged - Patience Is A Virtue (Part 1)

Sunday 5th February 2023

Happy new month!

I promised God I'd post today so here we are! Normally he tells me when to post but today, I knew I had to make it up to him because of my absence.

I hope you've been well. I know I said I'll post every fortnight but to be honest I don't know if it's always possible. I'll try to do once a month though.

So the last time I was here (January 7th) I talked about how you shouldn't let other people's opinions define you. Today's one will be entirely different and was inspired by something that happened in my life. I don't want to get into it but I know I needed to talk about patience.

I couldn't decide the topic I wanted to do today, as in I was stuck between people pleasing and patience. People pleasing is kinda like last month's topic except not really. After speaking to God about it, I decided on patience and I can see why.

I don't really like admitting my flaws but impatience is my biggest one. I can be patient of course although sometimes it's harder than others. It's especially discouraging when you've started something way before someone else and they're prospering more than you. 

While you're happy for them, you can't help feeling hopeless at the same time because you're wondering if you'll ever be prosperous. I'm here to tell you slow progress is still progress and you shouldn't be discouraged.

Yesterday I believe, I was thinking about the story of the Chinese bamboo tree. You've most likely never heard of it before so let me explain it to you. Except I won't be doing the explaining. I got it from a website which I will reference below.

I've made things easier for you by changing colour so you know it's not in my words.

Chinese Bamboo Tree

The parable of the Chinese Bamboo Tree teaches us lessons about patience, faith, perseverance, growth and development and importantly… human potential!

Like any plant, to flourish the Chinese Bamboo Tree requires nurturing – water, fertile soil and sunshine. In the first year, there are no visible signs of activity or development. In the second year, again, no growth above the soil. And the third and fourth, still no signs. Patience is tested and we begin to wonder if our efforts will ever be rewarded.

Finally in the fifth year – voila! There is growth…and what growth it is! The Chinese Bamboo Tree grows 80 feet (nearly 30m) in just six weeks!

So the question is: 

Does the Chinese Bamboo Tree really grow 80 feet in six weeks? 

Did it lie dormant for four years only to grow exponentially in the fifth? 

Or was the little tree growing underground, developing a root system and a stable base strong enough to support its potential for outward growth in the fifth year and beyond?

If the tree didn't develop a strong unseen foundation, it could not have sustained its life as it grew.

Just as a house needs to have a strong foundation to survive, the same principle is true for people, success and your speaking career. 

People strive towards their dreams and goals, building strong character while overcoming adversity and challenge, grow the strong internal foundation to handle success, while those who chase the “quick buck” are unable to sustain unearned sudden wealth. Remember the old saying: “Out of adversity comes opportunity.”

Like I said earlier, slow progress is still progress and the story of the Chinese Bamboo tree reinforces it. The was no growth for four years and on the fifth year, the growth was so rapid it was like the first four years didn't exist.

Who said progress is always quick? Who said success can't happen slowly? There are no shortcuts to success. You have to take the stairs.

It doesn't matter how long the stairs are. If you're seriously determined about something, the time it takes for you to accomplish it won't really matter to you. It's not justifiable for me to talk about patience without Biblical references so I'll mention some below. Don't worry, I'm getting to it.

For example, it took Noah 55-75 years to build the ark. When I researched it just now, it didn't give me a definite answer. Either way, I know it didn't happen overnight. It's rare for success to happen overnight although there are some exceptions, i.e. a very famous person producing a new song.

Noah most likely grew impatient especially how he had to build everything by himself. I know I would've grown impatient. 

If it was an instruction from God however, Noah couldn't disobey. No doubt people tried to discourage him or make him think he was wasting his time. Naysayers are everywhere. When God asks you to do something, don't ask how long it'll take. Ask how can I start?

So I'm going to mention 12 reasons why patience is important. I can't mention everything here so I will break it into two parts. The first part will be today and the second part will be later this month or sometime in March. We'll see how things go.

Because I'm a kind person, let me tell you all the reasons before I break it down further.

PART I

1. You can better focus on your long-term goals and dreams
2. It's a fruit of the spirit
3. You can make more rational and realistic decisions
4. You develop persistence and resilience
5. You have a better time learning and developing new skills
6. It allows you to be a better listener

PART II

1. You make others feel comfortable
2. You practice kindness and encourage others to do so too
3. You learn how to live a peaceful life, not a stressful one
4. Better mental and physical health
5. People will be attracted to you
6. It's a way to practice faith

I've recently developed a love for Roman Numerals 😊💖

Six will be today, the rest will be next time. I'll mention the website I got these reasons from as no way did I think of everything myself. I only thought of the second one myself.

Website 1

Website 2

Without further ado, let's begin.

1. You can better focus on your long term goals and dreams

This is a powerful one and I have a real life example.

So if you know, I'm writing a book. I finished it in September 2022 and I'm in the process of editing. I would've kept quiet about this but I post samples on WhatsApp once a month and I love posting samples.

On someone's WhatsApp story, there was a girl who finished writing a book in two weeks and she already had it published. She was around the same age as me. She had a hard copy of the book in her hand and I was thinking:

Wow, she started later than me, took shorter time than me and already has it published. I'm doing something wrong. I'm taking too long. I need to hurry up.

I don't even compare myself to other people like that but honestly, I was just stunned.

I'm sure the girl's book is fantastic. I haven't read it. I don't even know her personally but it made me think something was wrong with me. I wanted my book to be published quickly too until God told me to slow down. We have completely different destinies.

I think he reminded me of Proverbs 16:32

Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

God said my story is going to be a bestseller one day and it's not something I can rush. What the verse is saying is it's good for you to be patient than be strong or mighty. He also reminded me of Proverbs 19:2

Desire without knowledge is not good—
    how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

There's a reason people say slow and steady wins the race. It doesn't say fast, frenzied and frantic.

 I'm not saying success earned quickly is bad, I'm really not. Success earned quickly is great and I wish I knew the secret.

I'm also not trying to show any jealousy towards the girl who had her book published after two weeks.  I'm very happy for her - she wanted something, worked hard to get it and it eventually paid off. I hope her book is extremely  successful in the future. 

What I am saying is doing something quickly isn't  good all the time. It's like playing keyboard. Just because someone is playing keyboard fast doesn't always mean they're playing it well.

I mean.. sometimes they are and that's insane. They're truly talented. I only play songs fast if a section is easy or I know it fluently enough to not make any mistakes.  I love saying it's better for you to take small steps in the right direction than for you to go quickly only for you to stumble backwards.

It's easy to think you're behind when someone on the same path as you is achieving success quicker than you. They don't necessarily have to be on the same path as you, maybe they're the same age or younger and they're doing more with their life than you are.

I'd also like to mention you don't always know what someone has done to gain success. Whether success was earned slowly or quickly, some success is gained illegitimately. i.e a billionaire could have done fraud and gotten away with it. You never know.  

What you have to remember is life is not a competition even if it seems like it is. It's also why I take millions of breaks from social media 😅 I'm not against it of course but it can affect your mental health if you're not careful.

Okay sure my book may be published way later but if God has told me it's going to be a bestseller, I can't doubt him. Besides I know it's teaching me patience. What Website 1 have said about this point is:

Back in December, I did a review of the Slay Your Goals Planner that I purchased and am still using.  Before the year even began, I was thinking about my long-term goals, and how to get there.  

Here’s the thing– I knew they were not going to happen overnight.  

In fact, much of the reason I bought the planner in the first place was to help me break down my goals.  When I have a minor setback or something doesn’t work the way that I planned, I can have the patience to say, “that’s ok. I’ll try something else.”  One of the benefits of being patient is that it helps you set and achieve your long terms goals.   

Website 2 didn't delve deeper into the reasons, it only mentioned them.

Unfortunately, looking back I don't think I'll get to all six parts today. I might have to break it into three or four parts instead.

It's good for you to set long term goals so it'll be easier for you to be patient. For instance, I said I want my story published by 2025 or earlier. Inevitably, I don't know God's plans for my life so it could be later - and speaking of, you shouldn't be discouraged if your goals are taking  longer than you wanted them to.

Remember Psalms 33:11

Psalm 33:11“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

Speaking of long term goals, I'm not talking about extremely long term, like what's going to happen 50 years from now. I won't hold it against you if you've planned out your entire life of course 🤣but it might be better for you to start with closer dates and years first. i.e. wanting to finish university with a first class and you're a university student.

On to the second point!

2. It's a fruit of the spirit

So this reason was invented by me, and you can find the fruits of the spirit overall in Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful 23 and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.

I normally use the NIRV Bible (New International Reader's Version) because it's the easiest version for me to understand. Occasionally NIV too, although mainly NIRV.

But yes essentially what this verse is saying is these are the qualities a true Christian has and is something all Christians should strive for.

These are contrasted with the fruits of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21

19 The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual sins, impure acts and wild living.

20 It includes worshiping statues of gods and worshiping evil powers. It also includes hatred and fighting, jealousy and fits of anger. Sinful desire is interested only in getting ahead. It stirs up trouble. It separates people into their own little groups.

21 It wants what others have. It gets drunk and takes part in wild parties. It does many things of that kind. I warn you now as I did before. People who live like this will not receive God’s kingdom.

Verses 16 - 18 are powerful too however Verses 19-21 explain what the fruits of the flesh are while 16 -18 leads to it.

If you have patience in your life, it means you have a fruit of the spirit. Ideally, you should strive for all fruits of the spirit. Since this topic is about patience, it's why I'm emphasising it.

Two excellent examples of people who showed patience in the Bible were Job and Sarah. Job lost everything and did not sin by blaming God:

Job 1:22 - In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

I mean, wow! For someone to lose everything and not blame God, it's truly an accomplishment. Asking God why something happened isn't the same as blaming him. Certain things happen in life that need further clarification.

I'm not sure how long Job had to wait for everything to be restored back to him but I know he definitely had to be patient. At the end of the chapter, he received twice of everything he lost. I've referenced the end of Job 42 below:

10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver[a] and a gold ring.

12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.

13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.

14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch.

15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.

17 And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

Job described as "full of years" in the last verse means he lived to a considerable age. I'm sure if he blamed God or was impatient, God wouldn't have blessed him at all, let alone twice as much.

I mentioned Sarah earlier and I'm now going to explain why. She waited 90 years to have a baby. I know the Bible calendar wasn't as long as today's one, otherwise Methuselah definitely wouldn't have lived to be nearly 1,000. 

Regardless, waiting 90 years is an incredibly long time. It's less than how long some people have lived for. Imagine starting something when you're let's say 20 and finishing it 90 years later. You'll be 110. Or dead - or you might not be able to finish it because you're dead.

I know if I had to wait 90 years for something, I would certainly not be patient. Sarah and Job both had patience and I know you can too. If it's hard for  you to be patient in situations, try being patient with people. You don't know what they're going through.

There's a song I know I like called Count It All Joy by the Winans. The Winans family is very large - a lot of people have the same surname. The chorus says the following:

Count it all joy

Even when it seems so hard to

God will never 

Give you more than what you can handle

Tough times is the best way for you to be patient because you know there's light at the end of the tunnel. There is a time for everything, which you can find in Ecclesiastes 3:1. 

Like the song says, God doesn't give you more than what you can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Tough times happen in your life so you can become a stronger person and so God can teach you patience, because you're waiting for something good to happen.

Some tough times are blessings in disguise, for example rejection. Or if a strong Christian who suffered a lot in life has tragically passed away, you know they're in a place where there is no more suffering.

So yes, hang in there. Don't get discouraged - Galatians 6:9 highlights it.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

You can only reap a harvest if you're patient enough to wait for it.

3. Allows you to make more rational and mindful choices (on how to react to things)

I've decided to stick to three reasons per part. The number 4 bothers me (and 9), plus these posts take about two hours to write with no distractions.

What website 1 has said about this is:

This is a major benefit to being patient.  When you are overcome with emotion, you are not going to make very good choices.  Your brain can’t think straight – all it sees is the emotion that you are feeling which is temporarily over-riding your rational thinking.

You know how I said you should be patient with people and not only situations? Let me go back to it.

There's another song I know that has lyrics saying:

In life people will hate you
Do anything to break you
Don't let nothing faze you
Even if they forsake you
You go stand up tall
Na your enemy go fall
Don't fear them and believe in yourself

Make them no say that you shall pass

Make you look them in the eyes and say...

The rest is kind of in another language. But this verse I've referenced is 100% correct.  

People in life will hurt you. It's inevitable and expected. And certain people will undoubtedly be difficult to be patient with. If someone has wronged you and you're angry at them, it's easy for you to lash out.

Don't do this - the Bible is against it in Ephesians 4:26-27

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

In GIFs, don't be this:

When you can be this - and you should be this:

If you're the first one, you're kind of letting the devil have a hold on you. Yes, she's clapping her hands but she also looks like she's ready to fight someone. It's like she's clapping her hands sarcastically.

1 Peter 5:8 and John 10:10 says the devil is roaming around like a lion, looking for who to devour. 

Likewise, Ephesians 2:1-3 says:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

I'm also saying this because some people may be dealing with situations affecting their mood. They may be going through a tough time. You need to be kind to people always and I cannot stress this enough.

When Ephesians 2:2 says the devil is the prince over the power of the air, it means  he rules and possesses power to manifest evil in the world through influencing people and commanding demons. 

This can be losing your temper with someone and not really being patient with them without fully knowing what's going on. If you do know what's going on, it makes it worse.  For instance, someone you yell at for taking too much time to do something may be having a bad day or worse, is grieving.

 We should strive to be like Jesus at all times. It's why we're called Christians. Christians mean Christ-like.

You cannot act on your negative feelings because it'll do more harm than good.

That's it for today! I'm quite tired I'm not gonna lie 😴 but yes I hope you've learnt something for today. This will have 4 parts... I know - while I do hate the number 4,  I just realised it's a lose lose situation either way.

I'll hopefully see you next time and have a good week/month/year ahead. 💖💜 thanks for reading, bye!