Patience Is Kindness: Biblical Lessons on Faith, Love, and God’s Timing
Lately, I’ve found myself in a financial bind. Although I am grateful for my current position, I often feel stretched thin when it comes to financial freedom. Most of my income goes toward bills and necessities. Anything beyond that is usually a sacrifice.
Despite this, I haven’t completely given up on rideshare work to help cover the extra costs of certain needs and occasional pleasures. Even so, I do my best to budget and manage my expenses wisely. It leaves little room for me to think about helping others.
Although I am not yet completely financially independent, I was on an even tighter budget while enrolled at my previous college.
Between managing school responsibilities and maintaining enough income to pay for my car and other bills, I became focused primarily on myself. If I had the opportunity to help my family, I would. Oftentimes, I took what I considered “necessary risks” for friends and family while neglecting my own needs in the process.
After spending so much time focused on my own struggles, it became easy to overlook those who truly needed help. Cries for assistance were drowned out by my own troubles, and I justified it by telling myself that I couldn’t afford to give away what little I had left.
After all, how else was I supposed to survive?
It became a constant mental battle over whether I could even afford to be charitable.
Eventually, I began to avoid opportunities for charity unless they directly benefited me—through class credit, a boost to my résumé, or some other personal gain. Otherwise, I might donate only if I happened to have a spare dollar, which is increasingly rare in this digital age.
The other day, I saw a homeless man and instinctively looked away.
Almost immediately, my spirit stirred. The phrase “blood clot” caught my attention and reminded me of how a close family member had recently overcome her battle with cancer. My heart softened in a way it hadn’t for a long time, and the hesitation I usually felt about giving was suddenly silenced.
I decided that with the little money I had left for gas, I could at least buy this man a meal.
You can imagine my surprise when I witnessed the very same hesitation I had once struggled with replaying itself right in front of me.
I wanted to provide the man with some water as well, but the cashier had difficulty understanding me because of a language barrier. I tried to be as clear as possible about my intentions, even pointing to the foam cups behind him. However, he made it clear that he didn’t want it to become an everyday occurrence out of fear of getting in trouble with his boss.
I understood.
Who was I to judge the cashier?
Still, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed that the world has come to this point. The adversary has disguised charity as a burden—something that threatens people’s security and peace of mind. It has become so easy to view generosity as a liability rather than a blessing.
To those who want to help, it can sometimes feel as though they can’t.
In fact, if the Holy Spirit had not convicted me, I likely would have continued believing the same lie—that pure charity is a burden rather than a gift.
Even so, my focus remained on my goal.
This man needed water.
With a meal and a drink secured, I handed them to him and simply said, “God bless you.”
What happened next genuinely warmed my heart.
I watched a grown man smile as he enjoyed his warm meal with sincere gratitude. It filled me with a joy I hadn’t felt in quite some time.
Why am I sharing this story?
Because I want to remind you that the Lord will provide.
No matter your situation, if there is a way to give, then give.
Of course, I would never condemn or shame someone for refusing to give their last dollar. That is not the point.
The point is that even when life becomes difficult, and you are unable to give as much as you once could, do not completely shut out opportunities to help when they arise. Listen to God. Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Even when the pull is small, be eager to act and grateful for the opportunity.
God blesses us with a warmth that renews the soul, and I do not doubt that acts of genuine charity bring joy to His heart as well.
If the roles were reversed, God would move through others to help you in your time of need.
Shouldn’t we believe He desires to do the same for those who are struggling, living on the streets, or going without the things many of us take for granted?
Look into your heart and find a way to give.
And if this story has touched you in any way, share some ideas for how we can give back to our communities. Let’s encourage one another to give with joyful hearts.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 KJV
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A quiet moment with God
Prayer:
I hope you were able to read this story and reflect on it, and I pray that this narrative of my past has touched your life. May God go with you, teach you, and grant you wisdom and understanding as you reflect on your life and on where He has worked in you out of Love. I pray that your love story will draw you closer to God, build a relationship with Him, and spread his word to others. I pray we continually learn, practice, and enact love for one another and serve one another as one house. May you stay blessed in your endeavors, and I pray that you remember that God always loves you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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