“Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait, and wait without anxiety.” Patience is natural to the teacher of God. All he sees is a certain outcome, at a time perhaps unknown to him as yet, but not in doubt. The time will be as right as is the answer.

And this is true for everything that happens now or in the future. The past as well held no mistakes; nothing that did not serve to benefit the world, as well as him to whom it seemed to happen. Perhaps it was not understood at the time. Even so, the teacher of God is willing to reconsider all his past decisions, if they are causing pain to anyone.

“Patience is natural to those who trust. Sure of the ultimate interpretation of all things in time, no outcome already seen or yet to come can cause them fear.”

Notes:

So much of our experience in this world can be likened to standing in line. At any given moment, we may appear to be standing in numerous lines: waiting for money to come through, for people to change, for our ship to come in, for our destiny to unfold . . .

Yet for all our show of patience, it is like we are putting a lid on a cauldron of impatience. We try to wait patiently while standing in these lines, yet doing so can sometimes feel like trying to rein wild horses! And sometimes we get so exhausted with waiting, that we begin not to even care what happens anymore. We have sayings like “I am dying on the vine” or “my patience is wearing thin” or “I have only one nerve left and you are standing on it” or even “I give up.” This, of course, is just another of the ego’s tools: to wear down the Son of God until he gives up the ship, leaving the “spoils” to the ego.

We may silently wonder if our patience is too passive, if we should just speak up and be more assertive just to get this line moving. We may even begin to wonder what happened to God’s Will for us? WHERE, oh where, is that “perfect happiness” that the Course talks so much about?

In contrast, the advanced teacher of God is truly patient, serenely patient, no matter how long the wait appears to be. How does he effect this? “All he sees is certain outcome.” (1-3) While his eyes gaze on uncertainty, his mind rests in the inevitability of a happy outcome. And so he can relax and “wait without anxiety.” (1:1) His trust is so great that he knows that even the timing of the outcome will be perfect – more perfect, even, than if he arranged it himself! He remembers that only the Holy Spirit knows all the ramifications of every decision in every situation, and only He knows the answer where no one will ever lose, sacrifice or die. (W-100.7:7)

The advanced teacher of God’s patience rests on trust, as do all of the character traits. And this trust has an observable effect on the people he is waiting for. The line he has been standing in all this time actually begins to move, even at a miraculous rate. For his patience sends them a message: “I am willing to wait without anxiety because I trust you completely.” This loving message softens their hearts and kindles their motivation. Where before they might have dug in their heels, or taken their “sweet time,” now they are inspired to move forward by the power of love. As Jesus says in the Course, “Now you must learn that only infinite patience produces immediate effects.” (T-5.VI.12:1) Remember, GOD IS.

MANUAL FOR TEACHERS

4.VIII. PATIENCE

RECAP

1. “Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait, and wait without anxiety.”

2. The time of the certain outcome will be as right as is the answer.

3. The past held no mistakes; nothing that did not serve to benefit the world, as well as him to whom it seemed to happen. Perhaps this was not understood at the time.

4. “Patience is natural to those who trust. Sure of the ultimate interpretation of all things in time, no outcome already seen or yet to come can cause them fear.”

5. While the teacher of God’s eyes gaze on uncertainty, his mind rests in the inevitability of a happy outcome, knowing that even the timing will be perfect. So he can relax and wait without anxiety.

6. Loving patience has an observable effect. It softens hearts and kindles motivation.

7. “Now you must learn that only infinite patience produces immediate effects.” (T-5.VI.12:1)

Note:

It seems unlikely to think that impatience can delay the WILL OF GOD, doesn’t it?

Yet He will not give us anything for which we are not ready. Impatience signifies an unwillingness to wait on God, an unwillingness to accept His perfect gifts. Impatience signifies that we have chosen the ego to replace God. He, however, will wait patiently on us to change our minds, to choose Him as our Source and to open to receive His perfect Will for us.

So set aside impatience, and wait on him without anxiety – but with CERTAINTY. He will not fail the trusting Son of God. Just when you think you cannot take it anymore, you will rise up in His Will and Glory, and accept the promotion He has for you.