What are some of the consequences of impatience? - Patience - TouchPoints

Genesis 16:1-2Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.

Impatience may cause you to rush ahead and take matters into your own hands, even when you know it’s wrong. Patience helps you to wait for God’s promises and plans to unfold, rather than trying to force things to happen ahead of schedule.

1 Samuel 13:11-14. . . But Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. . . . So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.” “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Impatience can lead to disobedience, causing you to miss God’s blessings in your life.

Numbers 21:4-5But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”

Impatience can lead to complaining and sometimes God’s punishment.

Proverbs 14:29People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

Exodus 32:1-4When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” . . . Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf.

Impatience can lead to poor choices.