When NASCAR drivers head to Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, they know that they will need an extra dose of patience. Going into the 2004 Food City 500, Kurt Busch, looking to win his third consecutive race at Bristol, said, "There's no real reason to get in a hurry at all." Easy to say until you find yourself going 140 mph on the short half-mile track with forty-two other cars. Busch seems to know a little about winning there, holding off Rusty Wallace for his third win in a row and fourth of the last five races at Bristol.

There are many situations in athletics and in life that require great patience on our part. Maybe there is something in life that you are hoping for right now: a starting spot, a championship, better relationships, a family, a job, etc. Whatever the case, we must do what we can on our part and then wait patiently, ultimately trusting in God's plan for our lives. However, as Christians, one thing we all patiently await is the guaranteed inheritance of eternal life that God has promised us through faith in Christ.

In the same way God has been patient with us, may we be patient this week with Him and with those around us.