Patience - The Struggle is Real

In a talk given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf the following story is related about a study on waiting. "In the 1960's, a profession at Stanford University began a modest experiment testing the willpower of four year-old children.  He placed before them a large marshmallow and then told them they could eat it right away or, if they waited for 15 minutes or so, they could have two marshmallows.  He then left the children alone and watched what happened behind a two-way mirror.

Some of the children ate the marshmallow immediately.  Some could wait only a few minutes before giving into temptation.  Only 30% were able to wait.  What started as a simple experiment with children and marshmallows became a landmark study suggesting that the ability to wait, to be patient, was a key character trait that might predict later success in life."

"Hold your horses," "keep your shirt on," "slow down," "don't be in such a hurry," "follow the rules" are easier said than done.  We live in a society where we expect instant gratification.  We want results in an instant.  We are losing the ability to wait.

When we wait on the Lord, we are putting our hope and trust in Him.  We are living with faith.  We are trusting in God's precise timing.  Waiting on the Lord doesn't mean that you are sitting around, it means you are doing your part.  For instance, if you are expecting a guest for dinner, are you just sitting around the house waiting for him to show up?  Or, are you making preparations?  You're probably preparing a menu, doing the shopping and the cooking.  You might have cleaned your house and even decided on what you will wear.

President Utchdorf states that patience is a godly attribute that can heal souls, unlock treasure of knowledge and understanding, and transform ordinary men and women into saints and angels.  Patience means staying with something until the end.  It means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings.  It means reining in anger and holding back the unkind word.  It means resisting evil, even when it appears to be making others rich.  Patience means accepting that which cannot be changed and facing it with courage, grace and faith.


One of the hardest things we do is to keep praying when we feel like giving up.  Sometimes the battle has taken longer than expected and we becomes weary.  "And let us not be weary in well doing for in good season, we shall reap if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

Many years ago Bryant was on a mission, Stacey was a student at Utah State and our tree care service was slow.  The plan was for Stacey to get a part-time to cover her living expenses while at college.  But, since she had arrived in late August in Logan, jobs were hard to find.  It would be a burden on us to cover her out of state tuition, her room and board and Bryant's mission expenses.  We decided to fast to help us figure out a solution.  After our fast, the next week brought no answers.  So we fasted again on Sunday.  That Monday, we thought our solution was to have Stacey drop classes and become a part-time student instead of a full-time student.  While she was online at the Registrar's office, she overheard a conversation that if you took classes after 3 p.m., your classes were billed at the in-state student rate.  She quickly called me to tell me of the solution to our problem, and when it was her turn at the counter, she was able to switch all her classes to after 3 p.m. and stay a full-time student.  The Lord answered our prayers abundantly.  Not only was she able to continue her education at a cheaper cost, but she was able to find a part-time job during the day to cover her living expenses.  Our problem was solved in the Lord's precise timing.

The scriptures are full of stories of the Lord's precise timing.  I was reminded of that as I read the account of Jesus telling his disciples to go to Jerusalem to prepare for the Last Supper.  He told them to look for the man carrying a pitcher of water and to follow him.  He would take them to the exact place where they later meet together for the Last Supper.  The Lord had it already set up.  I believe that He has that ability in our lives as well.  I am, at times, overwhelmed with the tender mercies that God has given to our family of setting things up in His precise timing.

Like the children in the study, those that waited to eat the marshmallow were rewarded.  When you are feeling weary, hang in there!  When you feel that your prayers aren't being answered, be patient.  The Lord answers each and every prayer in His precise timing. Your reward will be greater than you even imagined.