08/11/2026
Patience and Trust
Sunday, in my benediction (which traditional folks did not hear) I talked about the Marshmallow Test. The original results of that test with children was that those who could delay gratification did better in life than those who could not. It was only later that psychologists discovered that the level of trust on the part of the children for the interviewer was decisive in their decision to either eat or refrain from eating. The question was one of trust. Can I trust this person to be true to their word and return with a second marshmallow? Of course, our ability to find contentment with enough for today hinges on our ability to trust God to provide—to take God at God’s word.
I didn’t have time to mention research from psychologist Sarah Schnitker, who studies patience. One of her findings is that patience is not passive resignation. It's an active capacity associated with:
- less stress,
- greater persistence,
- better relationships,
- greater life satisfaction.
In other words, patient people aren't just sitting around doing nothing. They're able to continue living meaningfully while waiting.
That's important because biblical waiting isn't passive either.
Abraham waits—but keeps walking.
Israel waits—but keeps gathering manna.
The disciples wait—but keep praying.
Christians wait—but keep serving.
Patience is also a matter of trust. I trust that even if I have to wait, my waiting is not a sign of God’s reluctance, it is simply the substance of faith itself. Our is a God who delights in faith. Waiting is just one way in which we learn to trust in our Creator.
Tim
Archived Posts
One More Thing About Becoming Wholly Human
I was talking Sunday about the work of Hare and Woods and their idea of ‘the survival of the friendliest.’ Essentially, they conclude that “our greatest evolutionary advantage wasn't that we could do everything ourselves. It was that we could do things together.”
Here’s a preview of our congregation’s Core Values
In the coming weeks we will be exploring the importance of presence, prayers, gifts, service, witness, and growth in grace. These are at the heart of what we commit to when we join a Wesleyan grace-led church like ours. But we choose to broaden them out and state them in a new way…
The Biblical prayer we don’t know what to do with
Psalm 137 is written by people who have experienced catastrophic loss.
They have been conquered...
Patience and Trust
Sunday, in my benediction (which traditional folks did not hear) I talked about the Marshmallow Test. The original results of that test with children was that those who could delay gratification did better in life than those who could not.
Gandhi and the Sugar
I wasn’t preaching Sunday, Reverend Jackie Chandler was. And she talked about the power of influence you get when you practice what you preach. This famous illustration came to mind. It fits Jackie’s points quite well. Enjoy!
Not Just for Parents
Our current sermon series is about How To Talk Parent, but it doesn’t require any of us to be parents to appreciate the bits of wisdom OUR parents shared with us growing up.
If Not Higher
Here’s a story I wanted to use when talking about ‘what you do when no one is looking’ yesterday. It’s a wonderful illustration of what Jesus was saying in Matthew 6:1-6—do what you do because of who you want to be, not so that others will take notice and praise you.