Patience is NOT one of my Virtues

Preaching to myself today.  For my text, I will use:

Revelation 3:7

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Sermon Title:  Shut Up When He Shuts It Up

Faith is not easy.

Sometimes I get myself in a situation where I'm sick to my stomach and ranting and raving and screaming, "What is wrong with these crazy, stupid people?!?!  Why can't they see what I see and just do things the right way?  MY way?!?"

But I'm not the one with the keys.  He is.  And when He opens the door, no man can shut it.  And when He closes the door, no man can open it.  And He's probably saying the same thing about me right now:

"Why can't she see what I see?  Why can't she just do things my way?  If she'd just trust me, her life would be so much easier.  I have it under control."

And yet I'm still banging on the door.  As hard as I can.  Screaming and hollering all the time.  Because I want the keys.  I want control of my life.  I don't like waiting, and hoping that everything will work out right.  I want to know, right now, that everything is done and taken care of.

Argh.  Patience is NOT one of my virtues!

But I will sit still and wait.  Not because it's fun.  But because I know that exactly one month from now none of this will matter.  I will look back on this very minor issue and think, "What is wrong with me?  Why couldn't I just sit still for a little while and wait to see what happened?  And trust God?"

Galatians 5:22.  Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.  I really need to go back to Sunday School and learn to exercise these things.  They are all the fruit of the spirit, but it seems to me that they are also all choices.

I need to love the people involved, express joy and not fear, have peace knowing that God is in control, be patient that He will work it out in the right time, be gentle with my words (and actions and attitudes), do good works, and have FAITH.

It's just easier to scream.

Lucky for me, Revelation 3:7 was written to the church, and so was Galatians 5:22.  Apparently, I'm not the only one who knows better but still has trouble with these things.