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
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.
The Perfect Church
There is an old joke about the perfect church. We talked just a little about the perfect pastor, but turnabout is fair play. It goes like this:
The Clothes You Wear
Sunday I talked about Joshua the High Priest having his filthy clothing replaced by a cleaned and beautiful garments. I also used the illustration of a boy becomes a dragon—who ‘wears’ dragon scales—and is stripped of those scales in order to be restored to a boy. In fact, I could have done the whole sermon around all the clothing imagery in scripture.
What just missed the cut for Sunday’s Sermon
Naaman’s servants may actually become one of the hidden gems of the sermon. They say, essentially: “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.”