A Prayer for Patience

Kind Heavenly Father,

I come to You today, deeply aware of the ways that I have fallen short.

I have not always been gentle in my responses.

I have said things that I now regret.

I have forgotten to show grace in the face of others’ weaknesses.

I know that You see me, and I know that You see the things that push my patience to the limit—

The immature behavior,

The student who talks back to me,

The long, meandering story at an inopportune time,

And the need to repeat myself—again.

The truth is, these things frustrate me because I see myself in these actions.

I do not always think and act in maturity.

I do not always treat others with the respect they deserve.

My thoughts often wander when I am talking to You,

And I need reminders, too.

Lord, when my students do things that frustrate me,

When my anger flares up in my chest,

When I want to snap at them or treat them unkindly,

Fill me with peace.

Help me to remember to take a breath before I reply.

Help me to keep my voice level and calm.

Help me to see my students through Your eyes.

Help me to respond always in love.

And I do not just ask for patience in moments of exasperation,

But in other ways, too.

Give me the patience needed to show up each day and perform thankless tasks.

Give me the patience needed to plant and water without ever seeing fruit.

Give me the patience needed to engage with struggles that are beyond my scope of understanding.

Give me the patience needed to love, and love again, and love again.

Help me to be faithful in small and large ways today.

I go in Your strength.

Help me to rest in Your peace.

Amen.