The Long Drive Patience Test: How God Grows Patience in Kids (James 1:4)

Hey, Carpool Crew. Happy Monday. I hope you're geared up for a great week. Have you ever been three hours into a drive with your family and your patience is just gone? Maybe your sister on your shoulder, phone is dead, devices not working, no Wi-Fi, and the "are we there yet" has begun. Yeah, I know what that's like. That's what we're gonna talk about today. I'm Pastor Justin. And today's episode kicks off a brand-new little miniseries I'm calling Faith on the Road, five days of summer trip-sized faith stuff that I think everybody can learn from and have a great conversation about. I wanna jump in with the one thing that I want you to remember for the ride: patience grows at hour three when you're trying not to lose it. Okay, listen to this from James chapter one verse four, "And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." Endurance is a big word for the kinda patience that doesn't give up when everything in you wants to quit. See, James is writing to Christians who are going through some really hard stuff. He tells them that hard times grow something in you. When you stick with it, something good builds inside of you, something that you can't get any other way. That's endurance. Kid life has its own version. The long drive, the four-hour, six-hour, eight-hour, are we there yet kinda drive. We know what I'm talking about. And if Jesus were sitting in the backseat, maybe next to you at hour three, he'd probably say this is the spot where something good gets built inside of you. Stick it out. Don't complain, don't get angry, and don't waste this opportunity for God to grow something new in you. See, you've been in the car for hours. Your legs feel like they've been folded the same way maybe forever. No devices are working. Everything's dead. There's no Wi-Fi. Maybe the sun is blaring on your face. Everyone is touching each other. Okay, we know what that's right? Ugh, leave me alone. Give me my space. Your little brother accidentally kicks your snacks out of your hand, and they go everywhere. Man, the clock says you still have two hours left. See, the James chapter one, verse four move is very different. We stick it out. We build endurance because God is watching us, and He's seeing us be patient, be kind, be easygoing when it's really easy to maybe say or do something that probably you would regret. This week, there are a couple things that you could try on the next long drive. First, pick one whole hour and decide that you are not gonna complain at all. Not even once, not even a little, not even a, "I'm so bored," not a, "How much longer?" Watch how that changes you a little bit in how you act, because it will. Second, when you feel that whine rising in you, name three things you're grateful for immediately, right that second. You're thankful for the trip that you're about to go on. You're thankful for the car you're riding in. You're thankful for parents that love you. You're thankful for the memories you're gonna make. And third, pass the snack, right? Hand the headphones. Be helpful to the people around you. Give them the better window for a second to stretch. Give them the opportunity to have a restful drive, too. You'll find when you serve others, you feel like you're being served yourself. I know it's crazy, but when we're kind it makes us feel joyful. That's a good thing. Let's go back to the one thing I want you to remember for the ride. Patience grows at hour three when you're trying not to lose it. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, real quick, this week we're rolling through Faith on the Road. And if you don't wanna miss a single episode, I encourage you to consider subscribing. You get our bonus weekend episodes, Carpooling with Heroes of the Bible, and Good Night Psalms, along with a bunch of other bonus stuff that I think you're gonna love. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Now, before you go, let's answer this question together. What's one patience move you could try the next time the car ride gets long? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.