I was born with a very impatient nature. I wanted people to immediately listen to everything I said. I didn’t really care about others’ needs, only my own.
Even little things would make me impatient: people didn’t always listen to what I had to say. People didn’t follow instructions. People didn’t do their part in group projects. The line in the shop was too long. The cashier was taking forever.
I would especially get irritated at my brothers and sisters. The irritation quickly became anger, and I soon started yelling and screaming. When I tried to “hold it in”, it would just build up inside me until I exploded into even more screaming and anger.
I needed help to change
I finally came to a point where I was getting angry and impatient about even the smallest mistakes that others made. But I was so tired of getting angry at others. I really wanted to get rid of all that anger and frustration and get a sincere love and care for other people.
There’s a verse in James, chapter 1:4 (NCV), that says, “Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need.” This verse made me realise that my goal in life as a disciple of Jesus Christ is to become perfect just as He is perfect. (Matthew 5:48.) According to this verse patience will help me to become perfect, which is exactly what I want to become!
I began to think of my impatience as a real battle, where the end goal was to win patience. But I soon realised that fighting against impatience was something that I couldn’t do on my own. I needed a real weapon to use when I was tempted to be impatient and irritated, and what better weapon than the sword of God’s Word? (Ephesians 6:17.)
Having a goal to be perfect just as our Father in heaven is perfect might sound impossible, and I was often tempted to doubt if I could ever overcome this impatience in myself and become really patient, but the verse in Matthew 11:30 has helped me in my lifelong education as a disciple of Christ. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light,” is written there. This verse became a weapon for me against all the discouragement and doubting that I was so strongly tempted to.
Becoming a changed person
I really want to be an example to others, and show true kindness towards them, not anger and impatience. I am also often reminded of the verse, “Love suffers long [is patient] and is kind …” 1 Corinthians 13:4. This verse doesn’t just refer to the love for someone who is important to me; I can show a true love and care for anyone: my brothers and sisters, people at school or work, and even that slow cashier in the shop!
One of my favourite sayings is, “Maybe you are the only Bible that people around you are reading.” I think of this saying a lot in different situations. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, and if I am impatient, for example, does that show others what a life of a disciple is supposed to be like? Of course not! If I consciously fight against this temptation to be impatient, then others can see that an overcoming life is possible!
I still get tempted to be impatient, but I don’t have to give in to those thoughts and get angry at others. (Romans 8:12.) I know that I have made progress in this area because I can look back on the life that I’ve lived so far and know that I am not the same impatient person that I once was. I can even look forward to the coming situations that will test my patience, so that I can become an even stronger and happier person.
