Patience

I have recently been praying for patience.  After having undergone another surgery at the end of September, 2012, I have had to limit my activity until cleared by my doctor.  I am currently only cleared to walk, and lift no more than 15# (originally it was 10#). These limitations are things I am not use to.  After my first surgery, there were limitations imposed, but they were lifted sooner.  My doctor is being cautious, and as I respect his wishes, I have had to learn to be patient.

This is also especially difficult when so much of the activity I do in CrossFit is done for time or for max number of rounds in a specific time frame.  The clock starts and I go as fast as I can.  There is literally no time for patience in CrossFit. 

So I have been praying for patience.  I have been asking for God’s help in getting me through this trying time, while I await my doctor’s clearance.  And while doing this, I have been using my restrictions to my advantage, as best I know how.  I have been walking further and faster with each walk I embark on.  It has become a challenge to walk my mile faster and faster, without running or jogging.  I also have been working on the technique of my Olympic lifting, using a 15# bar.  I am not allowed to go fast or lift heavy, so I do what I am allowed to do.  And I pray for patience.

The other day, before I started my morning prayers, I was contemplating patience, and how I was going to manage being patient, and if I could be patient.  I opened my daily devotional to start my prayers and the first thing I read was a verse I knew and had used during very difficult times – during radiation and MRIs, when I had to be totally still, calm, and patient.  I prayed around this verse, asking for God’s help during these times.  The verse was “The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still” EXODUS 14:14 (NIV).  Tears started to flow from my eyes as I realized that this was the answer to being patient.  God had given it to me when I needed it most during my MRIs and radiation treatments, and He reminded me of it again this day.  He will fight for me and I need only be still. Be still.  Be patient.