Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work.

In this prayerful aphorism, the speaker asks God not for productivity or strength but for “the disciplines of patience,” treating patience as a learned spiritual practice rather than a passive temperament. The contrast—waiting versus working—highlights a common moral psychology: action can feel purposeful and controllable, while waiting exposes uncertainty, dependence, and limits. The line suggests that endurance, restraint, and trust may demand more inner effort than outward labor. In a religious frame associated with Peter Marshall’s public prayers, the quote also implies that delays can be formative, teaching humility and faith when outcomes cannot be forced.