When You Lose Your Keys and Your Patience

Laughing When Life Feels Frustrating

A folder, set of car keys, and a cell phone

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. – Proverbs 14:29

Ever notice how life’s little frustrations seem to crop up at the worst possible moments?

Just a few days ago, I spent ten frantic minutes tearing the house apart for my keys—only to find them nestled comfortably in my coat pocket, right where I left them.

If stress burned calories, I’d be thin as a rail!

The Gift of a Smile (Even When You Don’t Feel Like Smiling)

In that moment, I had a choice. I could laugh, or I could let my blood pressure spike.

Sometimes you just have to step back and chuckle. After all, the Lord knows we’re not perfect. He’s not surprised when we misplace our keys—or our patience.

God’s Slow Work in Us

Our daily frustrations are like pop quizzes for our souls, reminding us to rely on God’s enabling grace and not our own willpower.

Each lost key, spilled coffee, or long traffic light is a little invitation to breathe, smile, and remember: patience isn’t something we muster up; it’s included in the fruit of the Spirit.

Questions to Ponder:

• What makes me lose patience most easily?
  

• What would it look like to laugh, instead of stress, the next time I hit a snag?

Devotionals