Waiting is painful, yet fruitful
On Tuesday afternoon, my husband and I took the kids to the lake to swim. While I was taking a dip myself, I got water in my right ear that still has not come out. I’ve shaken my head sideways so much I now have neck pain. I’ve tried every home remedy and over-the-counter product you can get your hands on. No luck. My right ear is still frustratingly clogged.
I’ll probably need to see a doctor to fix the problem, which won’t happen until Monday at the earliest. So until then, I’m stuck with a water-logged ear and jacked-up hearing.
If you’re anything like me, you despise those times when life is difficult and nothing you can do at the moment will change your circumstances.
Yet these are also the times when I’m reminded how desperately the fruit of the Spirit needs cultivated in my weak, earthly self.
Patience and self-control seem to need the Master Gardener’s care most often in my life, it seems. 😉
Our culture is not one that teaches patience, is it? The frustration of drivers behind the wheel or the troubling amount of debt the average consumer now carries are everyday reminders of how difficult it has become for us to wait … for anything.
Many times, I have been impatient and frustrated with the Lord when He hasn’t answered a prayer immediately or operated according to my schedule. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve even tried to manipulate situations or circumstances and “fix things on my own” in an effort to get my way.
Will I ever truly grasp that an omniscient (all-knowing) God who created and rules over time can never be late?
Waiting requires patience along with a good measure of faith, doesn’t it? Ironically, it’s typically the difficult, need-to-wait circumstances I face that truly grow – and display – patience and faith in my life.
Obviously, a little water in my ear is not the most difficult, patience-producing event I’ve ever experienced. But it’s one more, small reminder that God’s work is like a seed planted deep in the soil. I can’t see the underground process. But just as a budding tree eventually appears, in time, the Lord’s ordained outcome will become evident.
What difficult circumstance have you faced that required you to develop patience and faith?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
hope you have tried the equal parts alcohol and white vinegar leaving it in for a short time and rolling over to let it bring out the moisture with it. do not be afraid to administer a few times as it is not intended to be an instant cure.
Susan:
Don’t put alcohol/vinegar in the ear! NO! No! NO! Just went through this 3 weeks ago! It is an inner canal infection (swimmer’s ear!) You have a virus in your ear. Keep cotton swabs out of the ear! Keep everything out of the ear. Go to your dr. and get “sterile Otic Suspension” ear drops. This will clear up in 3 to 7 days. I just went through this and putting anything else in the ear will just irritate it all the more, and you don’t want an infection to go through the tube to the brain, then you may not live to see the light of day! Truly, go to the dr. and get ear drops for swimmer’s ear. I didn’t go swimming, but have been in my spa, or shower which I had a full-blown problem. Not hearing is frustrating, and you can lose your balance too. It is painful! I suffered 2 weeks with no hearing without seeing a dr. After I did visit the dr., 3 days of drops, morning and evening, did the trick, but you are told to do it for a week. It takes 4 drops while laying on your side for a minute. Have cotton balls to plug the ear for the minute so you don’t drain on the clothes. Prayers for healing. Always see a dr. Don’t put things off, cause it just makes things worse.
I too struggle to wait on the Lord…. What a good reminder for today. God’s timing is not ours…. To Him a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day….. Praying that your ear will heal quickly..
Thanks Rachel!
I’m sorry for your suffering – it can’t be pleasant.
I appreciate the way you applied the fruits of the spirit to this every day situation. I know I lack patience all too often and need to exercise restraint in my spending for instance. Thank you for giving me something to think about – I will try to look to God more often.
I have an issue keeping water out of my left ear. I keep a product on hand called “Auro-Dri” for water in ears.
I assume by this point you have gotten some medical advice about this, but thought I would post about this stuff. It does work well for me.
I’m a busybody–always thinking that I have to step in and help God along, lol. Of course, it never works out. I know that He’s working with me on trust issues; trusting His love for me, His wisdom, His timing…etc. I am so grateful that He is such a wonderful example of patience–with me!
I can totally relate, Christine. Thanks for the inspiring words of wisdom! 🙂