One prayer request that I hear from so many people is for patience. Whether it is patience in interacting with people, patience in working through a circumstance, or patience in waiting for the fulfillment of a promise, patience is a trait that we all need to get through life. The blessing is that many of us know we need patience, but few of us know the degree to which we need it. I would argue that a foundational characteristic of life in Christ is patience. In fact, it is one of the fruits of the Spirit noted in Galatians 5:22, and it is the very first trait of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13. In Strong’s Lexicon, the Greek word is the same in both verses, meaning: to suffer long, enduring and remaining steadfast and constant in bearing troubles without retaliating (Paraphrase). When explaining the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8, Jesus encourages us in patience, saying: “But the ones that fell on good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15, NKJV). We must keep His word and bear fruit with patience. Strong’s Lexicon notes the Greek root of the word for patience in this verse to be to remain and abide, to be held, kept continually.
The two Greek definitions mentioned above are for different but synonymous words. They both translate to patience in English, but in examining the root of both, we gain insight into the importance of developing patience for this age and the next. We are commissioned to make disciples of nations. We can’t do that without love. People can be rude and offensive. We are imperfect and broken. We hurt each other, we make mistakes, and we are often unreliable. We need to suffer through these things with one another in patience, remaining both steadfast to the people God has placed in our lives and the vision of Christ for their lives and our own. As we our walking out God’s vision for our lives, we will come into situations that are less than pleasant. They are trying times with great purpose: to make us pure and holy vessels unto the LORD. We are tried in the fire and we come out as gold. The purpose of the trials isn’t a secret. The purpose is written countless times in the Bible, but we often forget that there is a purpose in the midst of it. To me, Paul puts it best in Romans 5:3, writing: “…but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance (patience); perseverance (patience), character; and character, hope.” Our trials and tribulations are building within us a patience that is developing us into the character of Christ and producing within us a hope in God’s love for us. God brings us to these places that we may know Him. He is faithful to allow the trials and to give us the grace to endure them patiently. We often do not know the benefit of the trial until it has passed, but there is always a benefit because He works all things out for our good. He also is faithful in delaying His promises until the appointed time. Where is the faithfulness in this, you may ask. We too often expect the promise to be fulfilled immediately and are disappointed when it is delayed. The truth is that there is no delay at all, but only a perceived delay. When the promise is given, our Heavenly Father is aware of the time of its fulfillment. We, however, are not and grow impatient in the waiting. The blessedness of the waiting is that it is producing much patience and building our character and giving us the traits needed to obtain the promise and be faithful with it. He is faithful to develop our character and build patience in our hearts.
Patience enables us to love each other and make disciples, fulfilling the commission of Christ. It enables us to endure tribulations and remain abiding in the LORD as we do so. It helps build our character that we may obtain the promises He gives for our lives. And finally, one of the great needs for patience is to receive the promise He has given to the world. Our LORD will return, and His people have been waiting for millennia to see His return. Without patience, we would’ve given up hope long ago. But the hope that patience produces is also for the glory of His coming. He will come for us, and we would lose hope and turn away from Him if not for patience. I am grateful that He is faithful to build in me the patience necessary to remain steadfast in Him as I eagerly await His return.
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the LORD. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand.” (James 5:7-8, NKJV).
The two Greek definitions mentioned above are for different but synonymous words. They both translate to patience in English, but in examining the root of both, we gain insight into the importance of developing patience for this age and the next. We are commissioned to make disciples of nations. We can’t do that without love. People can be rude and offensive. We are imperfect and broken. We hurt each other, we make mistakes, and we are often unreliable. We need to suffer through these things with one another in patience, remaining both steadfast to the people God has placed in our lives and the vision of Christ for their lives and our own. As we our walking out God’s vision for our lives, we will come into situations that are less than pleasant. They are trying times with great purpose: to make us pure and holy vessels unto the LORD. We are tried in the fire and we come out as gold. The purpose of the trials isn’t a secret. The purpose is written countless times in the Bible, but we often forget that there is a purpose in the midst of it. To me, Paul puts it best in Romans 5:3, writing: “…but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance (patience); perseverance (patience), character; and character, hope.” Our trials and tribulations are building within us a patience that is developing us into the character of Christ and producing within us a hope in God’s love for us. God brings us to these places that we may know Him. He is faithful to allow the trials and to give us the grace to endure them patiently. We often do not know the benefit of the trial until it has passed, but there is always a benefit because He works all things out for our good. He also is faithful in delaying His promises until the appointed time. Where is the faithfulness in this, you may ask. We too often expect the promise to be fulfilled immediately and are disappointed when it is delayed. The truth is that there is no delay at all, but only a perceived delay. When the promise is given, our Heavenly Father is aware of the time of its fulfillment. We, however, are not and grow impatient in the waiting. The blessedness of the waiting is that it is producing much patience and building our character and giving us the traits needed to obtain the promise and be faithful with it. He is faithful to develop our character and build patience in our hearts.
Patience enables us to love each other and make disciples, fulfilling the commission of Christ. It enables us to endure tribulations and remain abiding in the LORD as we do so. It helps build our character that we may obtain the promises He gives for our lives. And finally, one of the great needs for patience is to receive the promise He has given to the world. Our LORD will return, and His people have been waiting for millennia to see His return. Without patience, we would’ve given up hope long ago. But the hope that patience produces is also for the glory of His coming. He will come for us, and we would lose hope and turn away from Him if not for patience. I am grateful that He is faithful to build in me the patience necessary to remain steadfast in Him as I eagerly await His return.
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the LORD. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand.” (James 5:7-8, NKJV).
