Patience Is a Virtue

“Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof:
so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored” (Prov 27:18).

I struggle with patience. When I work on something, I want it to be done right away. When I order something, I want it right now! Consequently, I’m not a very good gardener. I just have a hard time waiting for the plants to grow and bloom and blossom. I have an even harder time with trees. Who has ten or fifteen years to wait for a sapling to grow up into a tree that has fruit?
This proverb teaches that patience is indeed a virtue. While it may take years, the person who carefully grows, tends, prunes, and fertilizes a fruit tree will eventually be able to enjoy its fruit. The fruit does not come immediately; it takes time. However, patiently caring for the tree for years and years pays off when the fruit comes.
In a similar way, you should not expect to start out at the top. This is how life is: you must prove yourself first. You don’t get a job and immediately begin as the president of the company or the manager of the store. You start at the “bottom of the totem pole,” doing the jobs that nobody else wants. Generally speaking, if you work hard and do a good job at those little tasks, you will advance up through the system, but it takes time and patience.
Our world does not value patiently serving and working and waiting for God’s timing. It wants everything right now! Buy now, pay later! Pay nothing for a full year! Get rich quick! Nothing that is truly worthwhile comes quickly. Learn to be a patient young person. Expect to begin at the bottom and work your way up. Don’t be frustrated or angry when people don’t assume you are wonderful—use that time as an opportunity to prove your ability to serve others and learn the lessons you need to learn. Be patient in school and don’t be in a hurry to get to the next level. Patience is a virtue.