Sometimes we experience complications whenever we are close to achieving a set goal or target and we become impatient or nervous; such that every little delay or mistake of others pains you and gets you annoyed. Do you know that the evil one could use this human weakness in us to deprive us of our blessings and distract us from our goal?
One way or the other, we all have been impatient. And as we draw closer to Easter, this may happen as we anticipate the end of our Lenten observances. Therefore, today the Lord warns us, giving us 5 reasons why YOU MUST OVERCOME impatience. If you want to know, continue reading slowly…
Numbers 21:4-9
The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’ At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Impatience is the feeling of being annoyed by someone’s mistakes or because you have to wait. The Israelites found themselves in this condition because of lack of basic necessities. Were they not justified to be impatient? They were not. Before you embark on a project you must count the cost. They should have known that to leave Egypt (captivity) to the promised land (liberty) would cost them, and so they ought to have patience and perseverance to manage whatever they had till they reach their goal.
2. Secondly they ought to know that journeying with God requires persevering faith expressed in obedience. This is exactly what happens to us when we pray and are expecting answers. Sometimes we become impatient. For these reasons the Lord gives us five(5) reasons why we must OVERCOME impatience otherwise we fall prey to the evil one:
a. Impatience is a goal destroyer: it deprives us of the zeal and will to press on to achieve our set goals as it did to the Israelites.
b. Impatience blinds us from our own inadequacies: Ordinarily we ought to plan well before undertaking a project. If we fail to plan well and begin to face difficulties in the process, impatience blinds us from seeing our lacunas.
c. Impatience could lead to compromise: Impatience makes us feel we don’t have what it takes to achieve our set goals and suggests alternatives. In relation to faith, impatience could make one seek other means outside God for solutions to problems.
d. Impatience can create other problems: as it did to the Israelites- they were bitten by snakes and some died.
e. Impatience and anger goes together: once one becomes impatient anger sets in, and when one is angry he is prone to sin with the tongue and be manipulated by the devil (Eph 4:26-27).
TASK: Fight impatience by praying Psalm 102 now, repeating verses 26-29 anchoring it in prayer:
Heaven and earth are the work of your handsthey will perish but YOU will endure,and they will be changed but YOU are the sameThe children of Your servants will continue,
And their descendants will be established before You
Heaven and earth may pass away but since I am your child, I shall not perish but shall be established before you my God, in Jesus name. Amen
Thanks Fr
God bless you