The Bible speaks about patience in many ways, describing it as a fruit of the Spirit. It is described as the ability to wait for something and the ability to remain calm and peaceful during difficult times.
Patience is a foundational element of Christian living and is an essential component of any life of faith.
When we have patience, we accept the lack of control or understanding we may have in the present and trust God for the future.
What does the Bible say about Patience as a Fruit of the Spirit?
Throughout the Bible, patience is described as being birthed from a place of faith and hope in God. Within the New Testament, the book of James says there is great “steadfastness” to be found through developing patience. This steadfastness comes from trusting God, even during difficult times. When we trust Him, He will work on our behalf and we can wait with hope and contentment for His promises to be fulfilled.
The Bible names patience as one of the fruits of the Spirit, a cluster of positive attributes that describe the positive transformation that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Patience is described amongst joy, peace, and goodness. When these qualities grow in our lives, patience is never far away.
Patience is something that needs to be nurtured as it does not come naturally to us. It takes practice and the grace of God for patience to develop in our lives. When difficult situations arise, where patience is needed, we should turn to God. He is our source and our strength. Praying for patience and relying on His strength will help us to have the patience we need.
It is also important to remember that patience is not the same thing as passivity or inaction. Waiting patiently does not mean sitting back and waiting for something to happen. Patience is about having an inner peace and a contentment to wait for God’s timing, even whilst taking proactive steps in our situation. We must actively pray and do what we can and wait to see what God will do with it.
As Christians, we must learn patience, to move forward with God and to have faith that He will provide in His timing. We don’t have to rush ahead of Him or take matters into our own hands. We must learn to wait and to trust that He is in control and that He will honour our patient obedience. The Bible encourages us to be patient, wait on the Lord and to trust Him.
What Are The Benefits Of Patience As A Fruit Of The Spirit?
When patience is applied as a fruit of the Spirit, it grants us the ability to trust God and to wait for His perfect timing. In the Bible, there are many examples of God’s timing being different than our own expectations. Waiting patiently gives us the opportunity to increase our faith and to keep growing in the knowledge and certainty that God is trustworthy.
Patience as a Christian value not only provides us with inner peace, but also encourages our neighbours to do the same. When we practice patience, our friends and family witness our example and can practice the same virtues. Patience as a fruit of the Spirit provides us with an example of Christ’s love and encourages others to do the same.
Having the strength to be patient also prevents us from making hasty decisions. Patience gives us the opportunity to reflect if we are feeling overwhelmed and new perspectives may be found. We learn the value of taking a moment to think before acting. Patience as a fruit of the Spirit allows us to carefully consider our decisions and assess our current situation with logic and faith.
Patience also helps us to stay focused on the bigger picture and to develop perseverance and resilience, qualities often needed to achieve our goals. Being patient helps us to keep our perspective, embrace uncertainty and allows us to manage our expectations. We are more likely to remain hopeful and optimistic even when faced with challenges, trusting that the value of the outcome will be worth the wait.
As well as these practical benefits, we receive many spiritual benefits from being patient. We learn to rely on God and to trust in Him even when it seems that He has gone quiet. We learn to rely on Him for strength and guidance and to realise that He does not need to hurry to bring His plan to fruition. When we wait patiently on Him, we grow in our faith and understand that His ways are not our ways.
How Can We Grow In Patience?
Growth in patience starts with our attitude and the choices we make. If we choose to react with confidence in the face of trials then we will grow trust that God will provide and that He is in control. Practising trust and faith leads us to rely on God for the timing of His plans and to patiently wait for them to come to pass.
We can also learn to practice patience through prayer. The Bible encourages us to turn to God in our moments of need and to commit our worries into His care. Instead of worrying, we should look to Him for guidance and strength and be open to His will. When we pray for patience we can rely on His Spirit and strength.
We can also learn patience through studying the Bible. The Bible is a treasure trove of stories and teachings on patience. There are many examples of characters in the Bible who have waited on the Lord, even when it seemed as though God was being silent. These stories can provide us with examples and instructions to learn from.
Christian community is a key component in developing patience. When we share our doubts and struggles with Christian friends and find support, we learn that we can rely on God and that He will be there no matter what. When we have the support of community it is easier to develop trust and have patience even during the difficult times.
Finally, developing patience is hard work. We must dedicate ourselves to practicing patience ourselves and to helping others to do the same. When we actively seek ways to trust God and remain patient even in our darkest moments, then it shows that we truly believe in His plans for our lives and that He will work out His promises on our behalf.
How Can We Practice Patience In Our Daily Lives?
We can start by responding to difficult situations with a faith-based attitude. When faced with a problem, resist the urge to immediately fix it and take a moment to pause – take a few deep breaths, reflect and pray. If possible, look for ways to calm the situation before intervening; failure to attach ourselves to chaos and frustration instead of peace.
Having faith that God is in control helps us to stay focused and to concentrate. We must continually remind ourselves to trust that God is with us and that He will bring the outcome that is best for us. Being patient in our actions reassures us that God is working on our behalf and it also shows others that we are living our lives with faith and contentment.
We must also practice patience with those around us. Listening to others fully and acknowledging the perspective of others takes patience and understanding. We should be considerate of the opinions and views of those around us, show kindness and be understanding. This practice will help us to be patient and build strong relationships.
Patience also involves us having faith that God will provide for us. We must have patience with the timing of God’s plans and work and understand that His will may be different to our own. We must rely on God’s provision, rather than take matters into our own hands and understand that He will bring us what we need in due course.
Finally, we must practice patience in our relationships. Choose to give our time and energy to our relationships and practice the virtue of patience with our loved ones, even when it seems hard. Being patient and having faith in our loved ones helps to build strong and positive relationships.
What Are The Challenges Of Practising Patience?
Patience is hard to practice and is especially difficult when we are under pressure. We can often feel bombarded with situations in our lives that require us to be patient. Patience is also difficult when we don’t feel that we have immediate control of the situation and therefore our patience can be tested.
Sometimes, it can be hard to trust that God is in control when things don’t appear to be going our way. Impatience can start to creep in, leading to frustration and worry. Doubts can start to enter our minds and we can become overwhelmed with doubt and fear.
It can also be hard to be patient if we find ourselves waiting for something that is desired to us. We must have faith that God will bring us what we need and that His timing is perfect. Waiting can be difficult, even when we know that the end result will be worth it.
Having patience can also be difficult when we have no control. This is especially true when faced with big decisions or difficult circumstances. It can be hard to remain patient and content even when we don’t know the outcome and feel overwhelmed.
Finally, impatience can manifest when we are in pain or distressed. If we feel we have been let down, it can be hard to be patient. No matter how hard it is, we must try to stay focused on the bigger picture and faithfully rely on God.
