In my sprint toward wanting to be successful at making bread, I forgot the spiritual gift of patience (Galatians 5:22). It took a failed attempt to remind me of that. As I stood, wide-eyed, at the rim of my bowl and watched the blossoming froth of yeast, I felt as if I could wait forever just to see the mystery unfold and wonder in anticipation. I think that is what God intended the gift of patience to be like.
Patience often has a negative connotation. For example, I must have patience to endure this long meeting, patience to endure this cold or illness and even patience to let my “oops-I-just-cut-my-hair-too short” hairstyle grow out. However, no matter the situation, we are called to trust in God, to wait and watch for what unfolds and for the yeast to work. To live a life of daily bread is to know that patience can be a positive experience when we are able to be at peace and encounter everything in wide-eyed anticipation.
What is the “yeast” working in your life? How does it feel to wait and watch, wide-eyed, for what God has planned?
This message is excerpted from “Living a life of daily bread” by Mikka McCracken, a 2010 resource of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, c. 202.
Copyright © 2025 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected]. If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.