More From Mary Ng Shwu Ling

Recently, God has given me many opportunities to learn to be patient—whether at the bank, supermarket, or my job as a serving steward or as a tutor.

Firstly, patience is not easy but can be cultivated. Secondly, I’ve learned to use my waiting time wisely. For example, whenever I expect heavy rain on a day when I am tutoring, I go earlier to wait at the void deck (an open sheltered space on the ground floor of some housing developments in Singapore) at my students’ place. While waiting there, I pray for them and others. Thirdly, I have learned to wait without complaining. Instead, I just count my blessings that I don’t have to rush and have extra time to do some journaling and reflection.

When I think about patience, I think of God. God is the best example of patience and never gives up on me. Whether we are waiting on God or for a difficult situation to pass, we can pray, study, and meditate on God’s word. Also, knowing that God is in complete control of my life helps me to be patient to wait for God’s perfect timing.

God knows when is the best timing for everything in my life. May God grant each of us patience!