When Kathryn and I were newlyweds, Cup Noodles was one of my favorite foods. They were cheap, tasty, and easy to make. What’s not to like about that!? Kathryn knew better than I, as she would tell me that Cup Noodles probably wasn’t the healthiest food choice. I passionately dissented. Well, Kathryn’s opinion ultimately prevailed, and I no longer eat Cup Noodles. My opinion did not change overnight. In fact, it took me years to realize that Kathryn was right about Cup Noodles (and several other issues!) My beloved bride was right all along, but it took me time to figure that out.
You are like me. We share the same human nature. For all of us, learning takes time. I am not alone in this. All of us fail to understand as we ought. No one is exempt from the hardness of hearing that characterizes all of mankind. Don’t believe me? Ask your spouse what they think! Whether it’s about Cup Noodles or something else, learning takes time, and this means that we must be patient with others.
Frustration naturally arises in our hearts when others don’t “get it,” but we must fight this tendency. How does God treat us? Does God browbeat when we don’t immediately learn a lesson? Does God shrug His shoulders and say, “What’s wrong with you!?” when we’ve failed to understand? No. God “is patient towards you” (2 Pet 3:9), and that’s how we need to act. Learning takes time, so be patient with others. And take it easy on the Cup Noodles 😊
Pastor Chance
