Patience:
The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset
To endure discomfort without complaint
I know patience is not always an easy virtue to possess because we want things right when we want them and the world even teaches us to be that way but the Bible encourages us in so many ways to be patient. In my personal walk with Christ, I have discovered that being a servant, loving and patient are the ways we can most be like Jesus and build up our testimony. I know that I struggle greatly with patience in many areas of my life- as a mom, sister, daughter and student- but God is slowly teaching me to be patient and love patiently. Here are some things I found about patience…
Patience is not an option for Christians.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13)
Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are irresponsible, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14)
Paul instructs us that we are to put on the virtues such as gentleness, forgiveness, and so on as well as patience. He says that it keeps the unity of the Spirit in peace when we have patience as a virtue. As we go through life its hard to always be patient to any and all because it shows one of the images of Jesus. We often think love is the greatest but how often do you think of how important patience is and how relieving it is to other people. It is so nice when I go through situations and there are amazing people who are patient and caring.
In what ways was Jesus patient in the Bible?
We don’t always think about it but Jesus was very patient with the disciples. Even when His disciples focused on themselves and not Jesus, He remained patient, pulling them back in showing them the real focus. Their faith also was wavered many times even though they saw His miracles being performed but yet, He never left their side, He just slowly and lovingly reminded them of who He was. Patiently teaching them and loving them.
Patience grows our faith and hope.
I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. (Psalm 40:1)
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:25)
Waiting patiently for God shows that He is in control and that you fully trust in Him, not going to any other source of the world or even taking situations into your own hands. We know God is working and while we patiently wait, we grow in our faith. We praise, pray, and converse with Christians while we wait for God to fulfill what is coming next. While we wait, sometimes, even if our faith is strong we get discouraged but our hope grows stronger as we remember what He has done and will do.
Patience is a strong virtue in the characteristics of love.
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, (1 Corinthians 13:4)
How often do we love patiently?
How often are we patient with the ones we love?
Jesus loved us patiently and continuously does. Patience needs to be a big impact of how we love.
“Selfishness seeks its own private happiness at the expense of others. Love seeks its happiness in the happiness of the beloved. It will even suffer and die for the beloved in order that its joy might be full in the life the purity of the beloved.” -John Piper
Love is patient. God is patient.
“When you pray for patience, does God zap you with patience or does He give you the opportunity to be patient.” -Morgan Freeman, Evan Almighty
Questions to think on as you go throughout this week:
Who would you say is patient?
What makes you impatient?
Where do you need more patience in your life?
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