Growin’ Slow and Strong

Good to find you comin’ over to this ol’ front porch for a lil’ visit, friend. If you’ve ever stood around in the kitchen waiting on a stubborn pot of beans that refused to soften or out in the barnyard watchin’ an ol’ rooster that strutted around like it was plum runnin’ for office, then you already know patience just ain’t for the faint of heart. Life stretches us like a clothesline in a big Texas windstorm, and right in the middle of that stretching the Lord reminds us through Colossians 3:12‑13 that we’re supposed to clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. And then the Lord slips in the truth of Psalm 37:7 which tells us to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Those two verses settle right on into the soul like a wise ol’ hoot owl that plum knows when to be hootin’ and when to be hushin’.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22‑23, but it doesn’t git to growin’ like a weed. The Holy Spirit doesn’t shove it into us like stuffin’ gits put into a holiday turkey. He teaches us gently, nudges us real kindly, and sometimes herds us back like a farm dog that sees we’re about to go wanderin’ into a patch of briars. Spiritual fruit matures within us as we obey the Lord and surrender to His will, even when we’d rather sprint ahead like a lil’ ol’ squirrel that found a big ol’ stash of pecans.

Waitin’ for God’s timin’ is part of the journey. Sometimes we’re waitin’ for something we really want. Other times we’re waitin’ for someone that tests our sanctification. Either way, patience grows out of trust. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait on the Lord renew their strength, and, friend, that’s the only reason some of us haven’t melted into a big puddle like butter on a hot skillet.

The Holy Spirit urges us to be noticin’ God’s fingerprints all along the way. Every answered prayer, every unexpected blessin’ that sneaks up on us like an ol’ raccoon that thinks it’s invisible, every good thing God brings out of a bad situation, sho’-‘nuff strengthens our confidence in His timin’. As our trust gits to growin’, so does our willingness to be waitin’ for His solutions instead of demandin’ that we git our own solutions that likely don’t even work very well.

Recognizin’ God’s sovereignty is the real secret to developin’ godly patience. When we surrender control, we stop insistin’ that God hurry up, and we start trustin’ that He’s really never late. From our human point of view He seems mighty slow, but from His eternal perspective He’s always right on time, like a beautiful sunrise over a quiet pasture.

Father, help me trust Your timing even when mine feels rushed. Grow patience in me in ways that shape my heart and steady my spirit. Teach me to wait with peace, hope, and confidence in Your perfect plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Well, how about that, friend? As you leave off this porch and git yourself right on back into your day, remember that patience isn’t no kind of weakness. It’s real strength anchored right in God’s steady hand. It’s plum choosin’ to trust when you can’t even see the whole picture. It’s resting like a deer that knows the Shepherd watches over the woods. And it’s believin’ that God’s timin’ is not just good, it’s downright perfect. Now, go on and walk in that there real truth, and do it real slow and steady, like a wise ol’ tortoise that surely knows exactly where it’s headed and who’s walkin’ right beside him.

With joy,

Gwen