I take a long time to overheat and endure patiently under the unavoidable pressures of life.
"A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly."
Proverbs 14:29
It’s not a secret in my family that I lack patience. I don’t enjoy waiting; not for my toast in the morning or the shopper ahead of me in line. If you’re like me, your feelings toward patience may include resistance and a bit of an eye roll. Patience requires us to endure through something hard, even if it’s a small inconvenience. It feels good to have this validated in the very definition of the word:
Patience: To be of a long spirit, not to lose heart
A. bravely enduring misfortunes and troubles
B. bearing the offenses and injuries of others
1. to be mild and slow in avenging
2. to be long suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish
“Enduring…bearing…long suffering.” This is the real burn of patience—the slow enduring of pain or unfairness without retaliation; not getting our way without getting heated. Our culture has made it even more difficult to be patient. Think same-day shipping, express checkout, 280 characters or less. We can usually get what we want. But we all need patience at some point, a little grace when we’re struggling. When patience is offered it is comforting, disarming even. It’s good news for someone in trouble. And isn’t this how God’s patience plays out in our own lives? As a display of God’s patience toward us, he sent his Son who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross for our sin. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Christ let go of his right to comfort or personal justice, willingly bearing our offenses in his gruesome death. He suffered long. He humbly gave up a fight he could have won. This is true patience.
When God passed before Moses, he even included the virtue of patience in his own name, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6). Slow to anger. These are the exact words in the definition of patience. It is God’s essence, God’s own description of himself. This makes patience a key player in sharing God with the world. In patiently bearing offenses, we give others an encounter with the very character of God.
“Warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). There are so many practical ways to do this! It makes patience a game in kindness and gospel action. By gladly waiting for a child to put on her shoes or a neighbor to mow his lawn, we play our hand. Even better, we can help the child tie the bow or lend a hand with the yard work.
Practice Your Patience Game
If you want to master patience, you must be intentional about addressing it in your life. Try this:
- Write down 3 circumstances in which you struggle to exhibit patience (e.g., traffic, in the doctor’s waiting room, idling in line at the drive-thru).
- Next to each, write a specific way you might exhibit patience. What would it look like practically in those situations? What could you call to mind? What would help you to be at peace and patient?
PRAYER
Patient Father, thank you for making provision for me when I was in trouble. Thank you, Christ, for suffering long for me. Teach me to see people in trouble and offer patience as a display of your character. Allow me to choose discomfort in these areas listed, to be slow to anger in the midst of discomfort or loss. Help me lay down my life for others as you laid down yours. Amen.