Trying Patience

Patience is more than simply not being irritated while waiting in the checkout line at the store or being stopped on the highway in bottleneck traffic.

God desires us to grow, especially having saved us from the eternal judgment of sin. It’s good for us to become more like Christ. The ways he employs to grow us are ever increasing in complexity. Some of these are by design, like Job, and others are the result of our sinful, broken, and fallen nature. The choices we make and the choices of others all have consequences which by their broken nature try our patience.

Yet, God makes promises, and our hope is fulfilled in Jesus. What does God’s Word teach us? Here are the 33 instances of the word patience. Each of these is worth spending a day considering, but as you go through them ask yourself these questions:

• Who are the subjects of the verse?
• What is an aspect of patience being brought out by the way it’s described?
• What is the value of patience demonstrated?
• What is a takeaway from this verse?
• BONUS: Read the context preceding and get a deeper understanding on what is happening in the passage. Then answer the questions again.

I’ve included one of my thoughts, but there are many truths you can get and even cross reference for deeper study.

Matthew 18:26
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

We want those in authority to have patience with us.

Matthew 18:29
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Others want us to be patient with them.

Luke 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Following what God says to do from the Bible is very beneficial to us, but takes time.

Luke 21:19
In your patience possess ye your souls.

(Reading the context) Keep yourself doing right when persecution comes.

Romans 5:3-4
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Every trial we go through takes time and, as we’ve seen, faith. The experience is like a certificate that stamps you for being approved and acts as a proof of tried worth. With that, we are able to God more deeply for his promise of hope.

Romans 8:25
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Patience is not required if we could see how every step will turn out.

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The Bible (and Old Testament) is there for us to read and be helped while we go through trials.

Romans 15:5
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Patience is a quality of God as well as comfort.

2 Corinthians 6:4
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

There will be afflictions in which we need to have patience.

2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Witnessing and discipleship takes patience. People aren’t saved nor grow in the Lord immediately.

Colossians 1:10-11
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

We should be growing in the Lord. Impatience shows we still have room to grow.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Patience and hope go together in Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1:4
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

You must have patience in your persecutions and tribulations.

1 Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Paul is charging Timothy to pursue these things and not the things mentioned int he verses prior. Even though this is addressed to a pastor, it still applies to us.

2 Timothy 3:10
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

Patience is something we can use to witness to others by the way we live.

Titus 2:2
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

You are never too old to grow in patience.

Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Patience takes faith. Trusting God and his promises is the only way to have purpose to grow in patience.

Hebrews 10:36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

There is a reward for being patient.

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

We need to be running away from sin and towards God in patience. Overcoming and growing takes time.

James 1:3
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

You can’t have patience without faith.

James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

What you are to become through a trial is not what you might expect, but it is complete.

James 5:7
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Jesus is coming in his own time, but we are to wait like a farmer wants a harvest. That includes working.

James 5:10
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

You can see how faithful men had patience so we might follow their example.

James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

God is not without love as you endure. See how Job was blessed, and so will you be.

2 Peter 1:6
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

Patience is part of a greater process of growth.

Revelation 1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

We need patience for the physical trials through the same patience Jesus had.

Revelation 2:2
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Bearing under injustice of false teachers is something God takes note of (“I know thy works...”).

Revelation 2:3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Patience is more than simply waiting, it also means to continue working.

Revelation 2:19
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Working for the Lord in patience is more than simply working for the Lord in love.

Revelation 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

This is a preservation promise, specifically at the time of the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 13:10
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

There may be great harm for being faithful, but the reward far outweighs it.

Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

All you need is faith like a mustard seed, but do what Jesus says and never let go, no matter how hard life may get.

My favorite

James 5:7-8
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Specifically the phrases: the coming of the Lord, and the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

This is the challenge for you:

• Are you ready for Jesus’ coming?
  • We’re never truly ready, but we can’t be found wanting
• Are you watching for him?
  • Are you a watchful Christian?
  • Aware of the choices you’re making?
  • Waiting for those things which are good?
• If you’ve trusted Jesus as your Savior, you can overcome impatience
  • Get your heart right (stablish)
  • Put away the worldly pulls
  • Turn towards God
  • Obey what he says