Browsed by
Tag: patience

The Patience of Job

The Patience of Job

Comments 14 comments

The Patience of Job--Bible open to book of JobDo you know people with the patience of Job? Those I admire include:

  • Parents with a houseful of children
  • Teachers with rowdy, disrespectful students
  • Doctors with full waiting rooms who take time to answer questions

The patience of Job refers to people with great patience.

They stay calm in the middle of chaos. They treat others with kindness — even those rude to them.

People with the patience of Job endure through every circumstance.

They rarely waver despite:

  • Illness
  • Financial problems
  • Relationship struggles
  • Work overload

The patience of a saint means the same.

We often wonder how those people stay cool as a cucumber while others sweat bullets.

They rarely:

  • Yell
  • Act frustrated
  • Blame others

Instead, they:

  • Speak quietly
  • Do what needs to be done
  • Take responsibility when they do anything wrong

This expression refers to Job, a man in the Bible, who lost almost everything.

His losses included:

  • All his children
  • Possessions
  • Health

Job could not understand his suffering but stood firm in his faith.

Although he received little support from people, he relied on God.

Eventually:

  • Job’s health was restored.
  • He had more children.
  • His possessions doubled.

One constant for Job: Through all his ups and downs, God was always there.

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God” (Job 19:25-26 NIV).

Thanks to Jessi Gowen for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or thoughts about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Hold Your Taters

Hold Your Taters

Comments 10 comments

Hold Your Taters--two small hands holding three potatoesWhen my brother was little, I often said, “Patience, Robbie, patience.” He once responded, “I hate that word!”

He might have preferred my saying, “Hold your taters.” Tater is slang for potato.

To hold your taters means to wait or be patient.

  • Don’t rush.
  • Take your time.

This expression is similar to:

All remind you to practice caution.

 If you move too quickly, you often end up in trouble.

To stay out of hot water, you need to:

  • Slow down.
  • Think before you act.

Hold your taters in all of life.

  • In work or play
  • Alone or with others

Hurrying or skipping one thing so you can begin another rarely works.

Instead:

  • Take a deep breath.
  • Complete step one before you take step two.

“It is dangerous and sinful to rush into the unknown” (Proverbs 19:2 TLB).

Thanks to Debbie Tapscott for the suggestion and to Karen Atwood for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained or thoughts about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Right Off the Bat

Right Off the Bat

Comments 5 comments

Right Off the Bat--Batter hitting a ballWhen a batter hits a ball, that ball flies right off the bat. While the ball soars through the air, the batter runs toward first base without delay.

Right off the bat means immediately.

We don’t hesitate. Instead, we act:

  • Instantly
  • First thing

Rather than sit and ponder the possibilities, we move almost spontaneously.

We value first responders who act right off the bat.

Their speed often makes the difference in life and death.

  • Fire fighters
  • Law enforcement
  • Medical personnel

We don’t want precise workers to act right off the bat.

Their speed results in costly errors or conclusions.

  • Scientists
  • Accountants
  • Builders

For them, haste makes waste. If we demand their work immediately if not sooner, we suffer in the end.

May we always choose wisely between patience and speed.

Much in life is worth the wait. Yet, we never want to postpone decisions that require an immediate response.

Without delay [Jesus] called them, and they … followed him (Mark 1:20 NIV).

Thanks to Darrin Jenkins for the suggestion and to Richard Robards for the photo.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Jump the Gun

Jump the Gun

Comments 6 comments

Jump the Gun--runners at a starting line

In the past, a gun fired as a signal to start many sports contests. Runners occasionally became so excited, they would jump the gun. They started running before their races began.

To jump the gun means to begin before the right time.

Like athletes, we occasionally jump the gun in life. We act too quickly.

Rather than wait until everything is ready, we start too soon. Our actions are not:

  • Appropriate
  • Wise
  • Approved

Patience is hard to practice.

 Yet, we need it. Instead of getting in too big a hurry, we want to toe the mark. Better to follow the guidelines than ruin our chances of getting where we want to go.

When tempted to bypass the rules, let’s hold our horses.

Plan to go when it’s time to go but wait when it’s time to wait.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14 NIV).

Thanks to Melissa Bright for the suggestion. Image by Vlad Vasnetsov from Pixabay.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

A Watched Pot Never Boils

A Watched Pot Never Boils

Comments 4 comments

A Watched Pot Never Boils--two pots over a fire pitI am not the world’s best cook. However, I do know how to boil water. I have also learned a watched pot never boils. Oh, it eventually boils if I watch it, but it seems to take forever.

I wait. And I wait. And I wait.

When I focus on anything I want done quickly, time drags.

A watched pot never boils means impatient waiting makes the wait feel longer.

Time slows down. This happens when I wait for a:

  • Computer screen to refresh
  • Favorite meal to cook
  • Special visitor to arrive
  • Repair to complete

Checking every few minutes only makes my impatience worse. Wanting something done immediately if not sooner does not make it happen any faster.

A focus on other concerns helps relieve anxious waiting.

If I stay busy as a bee, I don’t have time to wring my hands while I wait. When I ignore the pot, it surprises me how quickly it boils.

Patience works better than a watched pot.

Allow the proper amount of time, and any project or activity improves. So does my mood.

A few good reminders:

  • Slow down.
  • Don’t rush.
  • Take it easy.
  • Enjoy the moment.

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7 NIV).

Thanks to Pat Childress Conner Stapp for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Chomp at the Bit

Chomp at the Bit

Comments 6 comments

Chomp at the Bit-Horse with bridle and bitOur family had horses when I was a teenager. I loved to ride, but my sister preferred to keep both feet on the ground. She did not trust horses, especially when they chomped at the bit.

Like many horses, ours wanted to go immediately, and they wanted to go fast. That was especially true when they saw water or food ahead.

A cousin convinced my sister to ride with him one afternoon. The closer they came to the end of their trip, the faster the horse ran. When they went under an apple tree branch, our cousin lowered his head. Gail did not see the branch, and it knocked her to the ground. That was the end of her horseback riding.

To chomp at the bit refers to a horse biting its bit (mouthpiece).

According to The Phrase Finder, the original phrase was champ at the bit. Both chomp and champ refer to biting or chewing. Excited horses chomp at the bit before a race begins. They have a hard time waiting.

People also chomp at the bit.

We may not have a piece of metal in our mouths. However, we definitely get impatient. Few of us enjoy delay. We want everything immediately, if not sooner.

  • Babies want to be fed.
  • Children want to play.
  • Teenagers want to drive.
  • Adults want good jobs.
  • Almost everyone wants love and acceptance.

We want what we want when we want it.

Like bits guide horses, wisdom guides people.

Yet, we need to find trustworthy sources for truth. Let’s never chomp at the bit until we know we are:

  • Following the right source.
  • Going the right direction

Until then, let’s hold our horses.

“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you” (Psalm 32:9 NIV).

Thanks to Tracy Crump for the suggestion. Image by Ainslie Gilles-Patel from Pixabay.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

In a Jiffy

In a Jiffy

Comments 4 comments

In a Jiffy-Busy Vancouver, Gas Town street“Stay right there. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” I wonder how many parents have said that to a child. Or how many spouses have said that to one another. They don’t want the person to move. They will return quickly

In a jiffy means in a short amount of time.

 Closely related to immediately, if not sooner, in a jiffy can refer to:

  • The speed of a person’s work (“I will finish this in a jiffy.”)
  • How long a person will be gone (“I will return in a jiffy.”)
  • The promise of good service (“Your waiter will be with you in a jiffy.)
  • No delay of any kind

In today’s world of instant gratification, people expect almost everything in a jiffy.

No one wants to wait. Patience remains in short supply.

However, much in life is better with time.

  • Fresh fruit and vegetables need time to ripen.
  • People need time to learn.
  • Research requires time for accuracy.

In these and other instances, haste makes waste.

Speed is often necessary. However, rather than rush, people usually do well to take one step at a time.

“If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25 NIV).

Thanks to Liz Gray for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Immediately If Not Sooner

Immediately If Not Sooner

Comments 9 comments

Immediately If Not Sooner, St. Lawrence River International BridgePatience is not my greatest strength. Most of the time, I want everything done immediately, if not sooner. I want it done now, but I wish it were already done.

That seems true for many of us.

We want everything fast:

  • Food
  • Information
  • Service

We don’t like to wait.

A right smart of patience would do us all good. Instead, we tie ourselves in knots with worry. because we can’t get everything done as fast as we want.

We become content when we begin to enjoy each moment.

With an easy does it state of mind, we:

  • Learn from the past
  • Do what we can today.
  • Look forward to what the future holds.

Like crossing a bridge on a family vacation, we enjoy the ride.

Above all and at all times, pray for and follow God’s direction.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” Romans 12:12 NIV).

Thanks to Jan Abbott for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill

Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill

Comments 3 comments

Make a Mountain out of a molehill--mountain reflected in waterWe often let the smallest problem bother us most.

We make a mountain out of a molehill. We make:

  • Something easy seem hard
  • A small problem seem big
  • Something unimportant seem important

Moles are small animals. So are the hills they make. Yet, we don’t like them.

  • They make a mess in yards and fields.
  • We may fall if we step on them.

However, if we watch our step, we can walk around or over molehills. We must climb for days to the top of some mountains.

Molehills destroy a yard’s beauty. A mountain’s volcano can destroy everything for miles.

We often forget how small our problems are.

Think about:

  • Colds compared to cancer
  • Flat tires compared to car wrecks
  • A bad meal compared to no food
  • A rained-out ballgame compared to an island destroyed by a storm

We may not feel on top of the world all the time. However, most days can be hunky dory.

Make a Mountain out of a MolehillLet’s not allow small problems to ruin our lives.

Rather than make a mountain out of a molehill, remember what matters most. Also remember, whether our problems are big or small, we never have to walk alone.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient” (Romans 5:3 TLB).

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.

Until the Cows Come Home

Until the Cows Come Home

Comments 0 Comment

Until the Cows Come HomeWe wait until the cows come home for a new job.

We wait until the cows come home for the love of our life to call.

We wait until the cows come home for a vacation.

Waiting is hard. Waiting a long time is very hard. Waiting until the cows come home … seems to take forever. What we wait for may happen, but who knows when?

If you watch cows move from one place to another, they usually take a long time.

  • They don’t rush.
  • They move their ears and tails to brush away flies.
  • They chew.
  • They often walk together in a single file down a well-worn path.

If you want to see slow, watch cows.

Some farmers move cows from one pasture to another so they have enough grass to eat. They often move the cows in early spring or summer. They return the cows in late autumn. That’s a long time until the cows come home.

Farmers who milk cows usually milk them early morning and late afternoon. That’s a long day in the field until the cows return to the barn at night.

Perhaps we need a little of a cow’s patience. When we tire of waiting, remember:

  • Don’t rush.
  • Get rid of unnecessary distractions.
  • Be satisfied with basic needs.
  • Follow the right path.

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” (James 5:7 NIV).

Special thanks to Emily Akin for the suggestion and link to this and other cattle based idioms.

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

Subscribe to receive my weekly posts by email and receive a free copy of “Words of Hope for Days that Hurt.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends.