Patience

The word "patience" is found 34 times in the New Testament and the word "patient" is found 8 times.. Most Christians admit that they should be more patient. We find ourselves often lacking patience with our children, with one another, and especially with the world. Paul told Timothy, "But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness" (1 Tim. 6:11). Perseverance is synonymous with patience.

How does a person get patience? The Bible tells us that patience comes from enduring trials (Jas. 1:2,3). The testing of our faith produces endurance. The word "patience" means "to suffer long" or "abide under." Paul told Roman Christians, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance." (1 Tim. 5:3).

Patience is more than just waiting. Stop lights, security lines at the airport, check-out-lines at the grocery store -- just a few of the daily things that can try our patience. However, God's idea of patience carries not only the concept of waiting, but waiting under waiting control. It is more than refraining from irritation because you have to wait in line. It is a refusal to give up simply because you do not see an immediate answer. Remember Abraham who received a promise from God about a child -- a promise that was not fulfilled for another twenty-five years?

Sometimes we pray and nothing happens. Either we give up on prayer and assume that it doesn't work, or we continue to pray, believing that in His time and way God will bring about His Will.

God's idea of patience involves greater things than waiting at traffic lights. It is being patient with people as they grow, because growth takes time. It is being patient as our children learn responsibility.

So, be patient with the new Bible class teacher, the person stuttering through his first attempts at public prayer, the new Christian who doesn't know as much as you do.

Patience is involved in our hope. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Ro 15:4).

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