There are several different possible definitions for “patience.” We might think of being patient with siblings or others in our lives. Maybe our long wait during the week for the weekend school break comes to mind (or perhaps the even longer wait for a sibling’s arrival)! Those are definitely ways that patience is applied in our lives, but do they have anything in common? What is patience itself? In a few words, patience means living the way God wants us to even when we don’t feel like it. In addition to the scenarios we already talked about (life with irritations or longing for something in the future), patience is also needed when we have unexpected difficulties or changes in our plans. When situations turn stressful, patience is necessary to avoid conflict. Patience has many different applications, but it is the same idea: continuing to do good even when our circumstances are discouraging.
Why is it important that we have patience? The main reason to have patience is because God tells us that we should possess it. Psalm 37:7 says to “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” Galatians 5:22 tells us that patience is a fruit of the Spirit; patience is the mark of God’s work in a Christian’s life. Whenever God tells us something we need to have, it’s because He knows we need it. In the second place, we should have patience because God does, and He should be our example in every area of life. Undoubtedly, God has more patience than anyone else ever could have. Many times in the Bible we are told that God is “slow to anger” (Ex. 34:6). Also, in 1 Timothy 1:16, Paul wrote that God showed mercy to him in order to “demonstrate His perfect patience…” Without patience, we only get frustrated. We realize all too quickly that we can’t control all the events that take place in our lives and get angry when our plans crumble. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 urges us to “be patient with everyone.” That’s hard to do! Everyone?! When someone wrongs us, patience is necessary to respond correctly. In addition to frustrating ourselves, without patience, we also frustrate those around us. It’s no fun being around someone who grumbles at the slightest offenses and disappointments. We need patience in order to react in a godly manner to situations and changes in our plans that annoy us. A lack of patience can definitely damage our witness. When Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13, he writes that “Love is patient” and that love “bears all things…endures all things…” God proves His love for us by His patience, and He calls us to do the same.
So, now that we’ve determined what patience is and our need for it, how do we go about cultivating it? First of all, we must realize the reality of God’s omniscience and omnipresence. Those are big words to communicate a big (yet simple) truth: God knows everything and is everywhere. That means that He knows what we need and He sees everything in our lives. Nothing escapes His notice! We don’t have to worry about whether or not He really knows what He’s doing. He sees the person who wronged us. He knows how eagerly we look forward to a certain event. We can just rest in the fact that God knows what’s going on. Secondly, we need to remind ourselves that GOD is in control, not us. Not only does God know what’s happening in our lives, He also controls what goes on! Again, Psalm 37:7 is a good reminder: “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37 goes on to say “…those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land” (v. 8). He will ultimately determine the outcome of whatever situations we may face; as our all-powerful God, nothing is too hard for Him. We can be patient and trust that God knows what to do and is able to do it. Lastly, we must remember God’s love and concern for us. God’s very nature is love, as the apostle John tells us: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). We can take comfort in the nature of God; He loves us enough, knows enough, and is powerful enough to take care of everything we’ll ever need. We don’t need to get riled up when someone mistreats us – God saw what happened, and He’ll take care of it. Thankfully, there is no reason for us to be impatient when what we want to have now seems too far away. God knows what we need and will give it to us when we need it, and He’ll also give us something to do while we wait! All we need to do is cultivate patience by reminding ourselves of His power, realizing the extent of His knowledge, and resting in His love.
John H. Sammis was very discerning when he wrote the hymn, “Trust and Obey.” All of the verses are full of insight into the difficulty of patience when it’s hard to trust God. One of the verses talks about God’s continued presence with us while we are patient: “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.” The chorus goes on to say, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey” (emphasis added). Even while we wait for my youngest brother’s entrance into this world, my family and I can rest in the knowledge that God has planned for his arrival already. We don’t need to worry about it; He’ll take care of it. While it’s hard for us to wait, we can, because God has plenty for us to do in the meantime. After all, all we need to do is trust and obey, right? He’ll take care of everything else.
Author’s note: God always rewards those who wait! My baby brother, Josiah Nathaniel, was born September 28, 2008. Everyone is doing well. God is good!
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