Patience
“Love is patient” (1 Cor.13:4)
Who or what comes to mind when you think “patience”? Is it work from home with all its
complications? What about the micromanager who breathes down your back? Those unwanted
pounds tenaciously hugging your middle? Oh! Your yet to be saved family? And, the aged parent
who repeatedly asks the same questions? Don’t forget those pesky neighbourhood kids!
Don’t you wish you could make short work of them all and simply get on with life? As it is, there are
options aplenty touted by the worldwide “web” (pun intended) offering the quick fix. Oh! I’m all for
effective time-management and efficiency. But, this is about patience – a fruit of the Holy Spirit in a
disciple of Christ.
How has your relationship with patience been? Do you simply avoid it? Are you good, ol’ friends,
having walked many a journey together?
I didn’t give it the time of day. Every hour of my day was jam-packed like Mumbai, the bustling city
where I lived. With impatience as my running partner, I’d unwittingly befriended the rest of its family
(self-righteousness, pride, impetuousness, anger, judgmental spirit, frustration, worry). Such killjoys
they were! Needless to say, my journey was dismal … until God met me at my most impatient yet
vulnerable hour to settle the matter, when a simple tooth extraction went horribly wrong, sending my
aged mum into anaphylactic shock that played havoc with her body functions and I could do little else
but cry out to Him and make her as comfortable as possible. It was frustrating to be a helpless
onlooker when with every fibre I wanted God to come “now” and heal my ma. That didn’t happen. In
that long-drawn season, with all human agency removed, God ultimately did heal my mum … and
teach me the lessons of patience.
“Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13:4). Matthew Henry brings this to life. “It is long-suffering. It can endure
evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with resentment, indignation, or revenge. It makes the
mind firm, gives it power over the angry passions, and furnishes it with a persevering patience, that
shall rather wait and wish for the reformation of a brother than fly out in resentment of his conduct. It
will put up with many slights and neglects from the person it loves, and wait long to see the kindly
effects of such patience on him.”
Jesus gave us a new commandment: “…that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also
love one another.” (Jn.13:34). As undeserving beneficiaries of our Redeemer’s mercy and grace,
patience and abundant goodness, we are now called to imitate Him.
Does that sound like a tall order? Maybe it is, for some of us. But it is do-able. Joseph did it (Gen.
50:20). Jesus too. And so can you and I. We don’t have to go it alone. The Helper comes alongside
us to remind and teach us (Jn.14:26) how to flesh out patience.
One might argue that it is possible to get along just fine without patience. How then would Christ-like
character be formed? My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the
testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing. (Jas.1:2-4) James discourages us from trying to squirm out of trials;
their purpose is to test our faith and give patience the opportunity to grow to full bloom, making us
mature, well-developed, better prepared to handle life’s challenges and even triumphant in and over
them! Job, being the case in point.
But if only for this fleeting earth-bound life, is it really worth it? No, it isn’t! But thanks be to God! we
are citizens of heaven (Phil.3:20). James seems to urge us to the finish line with these words: God
blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of
life that God has promised to those who love him(1:12). Testing and temptation are the means to our
being eternally blessed. Like gold is purified in the furnace, our afflictions prove our integrity and love
for the Lord. So in truth, this temporary earthly life is gaining for us things of eternal value … the
crown of life, a special gift from God to those who submit to Him and aren’t conquered by temptation.
The Bottom Line: While our trials last only for a while, the crown He gives will be ours forever!
Over to You: If you’ve patiently read through the above, would you say that patience …
** agrees that we’re all a work-in-progress in the hands of a loving God?
** chooses to see the treasure within and builds relationships?
** let’s go of that internal timer, submits to God’s timing and trusts Him with the outcomes?
Prayer :
Our Father! Thank You for giving us Jesus as the perfect role model for patience and that we have
the Holy Spirit to empower us to imitate Him … on our own, we could never do this.
In the busy pursuit of life, we forget that You’ve made us for a(?) relationship with You and others and
that we’re meant to be Your ambassadors. Forgive us, Lord!
Help us to overcome the sin of impatience that slows us down and to choose to run the race with
endurance, keeping our eyes on Jesus and like Him to despise temporary reward for the sake of
every eternal blessing You have for us. In Jesus’ wonderful name we pray. Amen.