Everyday Prayers for Patienceಮಾದರಿ

Loving Through the Hard

A few weeks ago in church, our pastor had us look deeply at Colossians 3:1–17. What stood out to me the most is that we are urged to “put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another.” I’ve found myself praying for a greater ability to bear with others since that evening.

Both of my sons are noisy, which can be unbearable at times for introverted me. They aren’t trying to get on my nerves when they are whistling in the car or beat-boxing in the hallway. They’re just being their own happy selves.

During the first few weeks of the pandemic, they drove each other (and me) crazy. I began to pray specifically for the Lord to help their relationship. We had long talks about the way they were treating each other and supporting each other. We looked at key passages from the Bible that define not just how to treat a brother in Christ but how to treat a biological brother who happens to be a Christian.

The changes were slow in coming, even though they literally had nothing else to do but be together. None of their friends could come over, so out of necessity, my gasoline and fire boys spent time hanging out. I saw them start to be creative together, playing outside on our property and talking to each other in ways they hadn’t for a long time. It wasn’t perfect and I had no expectation that it would be, but I believe God worked Ephesians 4:2 in their hearts…at least a little bit.

The pandemic forced my sons to learn to be more patient with each other. Even though things have been back to normal for a while now, I still think it changed their relationship for the better, laying a foundation that, thankfully, outlasted the struggles of all that togetherness. For that, I am eternally grateful.

There will always be difficult people in their lives—teachers, coaches, bosses, coworkers, and friends. Learning to look for the good in others and bear with their faults is one of the most important skills we can have.

Prayer: Father, when I’m tempted to get irritated at someone for something that’s just a part of who they are, help me to remember that I’m not perfect myself, so that I can offer them grace and patience. In Jesus’s name, amen.