Tag: patience

The Beauty of the Process

On By Jon ONeilLeave a comment

I don’t know about you, but I can be impatient at times. When I’m working toward something important, I often find myself wanting results before the process has had time to do its work. That impatience usually leads to frustration—and every time, I’m reminded that this is a mistake.

Before we can enjoy a delicious cake, we must give the ingredients time to bake. Before we can eat the fruit from a tree, we must first plant and nurture the seed—then wait as it germinates, grows, and finally bears fruit. Even before we can hold the golden egg, the goose must take time to lay it.

Everything worthwhile requires time. Food, automobiles, homes, and inventions all take a process far longer than ten seconds before they reach our hands. Yet in our age of instant gratification, we forget this basic truth: impatience can short-circuit progress.

Just as no chef can rush the oven without ruining the recipe, we can’t rush the growth phases in our own lives. Before I can handle the weight of larger projects, I must first endure the learning curves of smaller ones. Before I can lead with wisdom, I must first walk through seasons that test and refine my character.

The time it takes to reach a finished product always depends on its size or complexity. Masterpieces, whether they’re careers, relationships, or personal calling require layers of formation that only time can reveal. No wonder patience is called a virtue.

So instead of sabotaging the process with frustration, let’s rejoice in it. Because when the work is finally complete, the outcome will be far greater than we imagined. The waiting is not wasted. It’s preparation.

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1:4 (NIV)

Processing the Process

On By Jon ONeil1 Comment

We all want the breakthrough without the breakdown. The progress without the process. But life, in its stubborn wisdom, doesn’t allow shortcuts. It requires us to walk through the very thing we’d rather skip.

The challenge is patience. Time is a teacher that refuses to be rushed. And when you’re in a season of recovery or growth, time feels like a treadmill set on “eternity mode.” Every step counts, but it seems like you’re not moving fast enough.

Here’s the real question: What am I recovering from, and what am I progressing toward?

The answer determines the length and intensity of the process. Some wounds heal quickly while others require layers of restoration. Some goals are sprints; others are marathons. Either way, rushing only leads to reinjury or burnout.

Take Steve Young’s story, for example. Long before he became a Hall of Fame quarterback, he spent years sitting on the bench behind Joe Montana. It would have been easy to get frustrated, to think he’d never get his shot. But instead, he worked tirelessly in practice—studying, refining, and preparing. The process was long, humbling, and sometimes painful. Yet when his moment finally came, he wasn’t just ready—he excelled. His Super Bowl victory and MVP awards were the fruit of years of unseen work.

That’s why it’s crucial not to get frustrated with the processing of the process. The delays, the repetitions, the slow unfolding—it’s all part of shaping you for what’s next. God isn’t simply fixing circumstances; He’s refining character.

So, when impatience whispers, “Hurry up,” remember that every slow moment has meaning. Healing has its own pace. Growth has its own rhythm. And both are preparing you for what you prayed for.

As Paul reminds us:

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 1:6 (CSB)