Impatience - The Silent Assassin

We live in a fast-paced world where everything is expected to be instant. This constant demand for immediacy has seeped into our lives, and the results can be deadly. While we might not think of it this way, impatience is likely the biggest "assassinator" on the roads of the world. But as I've learned through my own struggles, this dangerous behavior on the road is just a symptom of a deeper issue.

I’ve had to confront my own impatience, and God showed me a painful truth: it's born from pride.

The Root of Impatience: A Matter of Pride

When we are impatient, we are essentially saying that our time, our schedule, and our comfort are more important than those of the person in front of us. It is a subtle but powerful form of pride that whispers we deserve to be first. This selfish mindset not only puts us and others in danger on the road, but it also reveals a lot about our hearts, our character, and how we truly walk with God.

The Bible makes a clear connection between pride and destruction.

Proverbs 16:18 (NLT): "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall."

This verse reminds us that when we let our pride take the wheel—whether literally on the road or metaphorically in our lives—it leads us down a dangerous path. Impatience with people shows a lack of humility. It demonstrates that we have not fully embraced the love and patience God has shown us. Instead of seeing our neighbors as people made in God's image, we see them as obstacles to our goals.

The Silent Assassin on Our Roads

The truth is, impatience is the quiet killer responsible for countless accidents and fatalities every day. It's the driver who speeds up to beat a changing light or weaves through traffic because they can't stand being delayed. These are all actions born from a failure to control our impatience, and the Bible offers profound insights into this dangerous trait.

Consider these verses from the New Living Translation (NLT):

Proverbs 14:29 (NLT): "People with understanding control their temper; a hot temper shows great foolishness."

This proverb highlights the direct link between a lack of patience ("hot temper") and foolishness. When we are impatient while driving, we often make foolish decisions—speeding, cutting others off, running red lights—all actions that significantly increase the risk of accidents and fatalities.

James 1:19-20 (NLT): "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."

While this passage speaks more broadly about anger, impatience is often the spark that ignites road rage. When we allow impatience to fuel our anger behind the wheel, we lose focus and make rash decisions that can have devastating consequences.

The Bible consistently warns against the pitfalls of impatience and promotes the wisdom of exercising self-control and thoughtful action. By acknowledging that impatience is a symptom of pride, we can begin to address the root of the problem.

Let's strive to cultivate patience, not just in traffic, but in all our interactions. By doing so, we can transform our roads from battlegrounds of impatience into pathways of safety and consideration, effectively disarming this silent "assassinator."

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