Impatience can be a frustrating struggle. When we feel we have to wait too long for something or someone, irritation and anxiety flare up. We get restless, annoyed, and make impulsive choices trying to force solutions.
Even minor delays stretch our nerves. Standing in lines, slow walkers ahead, red traffic lights, buffering videos, website loading — all can light our short fuses.
Deeper down, larger life hardships can test our patience even more. Unanswered prayers, health issues, financial strains, grief processes, and relationship conflicts try our ability to wait well.
Thankfully, Scripture offers rich truths and promises for developing patience in every season. Here are 5 prayers based on God’s Word to help curb impatience.
1. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24)
Pray first for God to reveal the roots feeding your impatience. Ask Him to examine your heart and expose any sinful thoughts or behaviors contributing to unrest. Confess and surrender areas of pride, anxiety, ingratitude, or self-centeredness.
Repent especially for trying to control timing and outcomes that belong to God alone. Submit those things into His capable hands, asking Him to replace fretfulness with faith.
2. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;” (Psalm 130:5)
Tell God you choose to wait for His perfect plan and timing over your desired solutions. Quote Scriptures about His sovereignty, wisdom, and lovingkindness as you wait. Remind yourself that His ways and thoughts are higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Entrust difficult people and circumstances into His hands too, releasing perceived injustices and inconveniences to Him. Thank Him that His grace and power shine brightest through weaknesses.
3. “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Ask the Holy Spirit to renew strength and energy within as you wait. Pray for fresh joy, hope, and endurance. Tell God you want to rise above impatience into His patience and peace that surpass understanding.
Imagine His mighty wings lifting you up from restlessness into grace and trust. Picture choosing stillness over anxiety about controlling situations and timing.
4. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7)
Pray through impatience by quieting yourself to rest in God’s presence. Listen for His gentle voice reminding you of His faithfulness through past seasons of waiting. Let go of trying to figure everything out. Tell Jesus your schedule and tasks can wait while you sit still before Him.
Invite Him to set the pace over your demand for quick solutions. Thank Him for the blessings of slowing down enough to notice His hand at work. Ask Him to keep teaching your impatient heart to rest joyfully in Him.
5. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7)
When impatience flares up, stop and refocus your gaze on God. Humbly acknowledge your dependence on Him over your self-effort. Put aside distractions to seek His face again. Surrender control once more, refusing anxiety or annoyance.
Ask Him to lead you in the next right step forward. Then move ahead in sync with His pace and timing over frantic attempts to rush His plans. Affirm that He knows what you need and when you need it. He promises to supply that graciously as you wait on Him.
Conclusion
God loves us too much to give us everything we want on our preferred timetables. But He promises to use waiting to produce something far better in and through us (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4). As we bring impatient hearts to Him in prayer, He faithfully transforms us with His loving patience.