At the presentation of Jesus, a man named Simeon was present in the temple. According to the Bible, Simeon waited for the Messiah, Jesus, his entire life.  Simeon teaches us that true patience is rooted in trusting God’s timing. It involves remaining steadfast even when faced with long periods of waiting. 

We need the examples of Simeon in a world that demands instant gratification. People want immediate results and answers. We get easily frustrated when faced with delays or waiting periods. Nowadays, we want everything fast. Many are becoming more impatient.

Patience is a challenge. We must be patient in life—schoolwork, exercise, business success. Things and results do not happen overnight.  Without patience, waiting could be a stressful and burdensome situation.  

If you’re practicing patience, there’s a high chance you’re not comfortable. Patience requires us to hold our tongue when we’d like to speak. It also requires us to lean into the unknown when we’d like answers. Yes, it is during this time that we lean into God.

Patience does not mean being passive. While patience involves waiting, it does not imply simply sitting back and doing nothing. It can also involve actively working towards a goal. Explore other areas in your life.

There was a story of a gentleman from the Philippines gifted with a beautiful voice. Since he was a kid, Sofronio dreamt of becoming a recording artist. To find a break, he joined a national singing competition. This included the American reality singing TV series The Voice, syndicated in the Philippines. He never won a contest.  One day, he came to the United States to work as a dental assistant.  In 2023, after almost two years in the US, he auditioned for The Voice USA. And Guess what? He became the grand champion for the 2024 Season of the show. Now, he has become popular, especially in the Philippines. He established his name and has connected to major players in the international music industry.

Some of us may be waiting for something today, and maybe we get bored or lose hope. It is easy to give up when we feel stagnant for a long time.  Let us keep moving ahead. Let us trust in God’s perfect timing. Let us find peace in the waiting. We know God is always working for our good.

A person who is patient is joyful and hopeful. A person who is patient is trusted. Think about the person you truly love. If they wait for you and wait with kindness and love, you can genuinely trust that person. A patient person is a joyful, hopeful, and trusted person.

The waiting period is a fertile ground for spiritual development. Someone advised me to pray to God. He said: Lord, I pray that you give me patience. But I also pray that you hurry up. Yes, prayer helps. And don’t forget to be humorous at times. We don’t have to be sad and serious while we wait. Patience entails an attitude of joyfulness!

While waiting for the Lord, Simeon occupies himself with prayer and joyfully awaits for the Lord. We can reasonably say that he was present to God in the temple. He used the time of waiting to serve in the Temple. May we find hope and meaning in our period of waiting in God’s house.