“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance;
and to temperance patience…” II Peter 1:5-6a
It’s a lot easier to try someone’s patience than to apply patience to a trying situation. At times, it feels unnatural, but we know having patience is possible because God instructed us to add it to our faith. He didn’t say it would be easy. Our patience can get tested and worn thin on a regular basis. Some people seem to handle it better than others. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. Longsuffering, tolerance and waiting aren’t virtues I easily exhibit. I know. I try really hard.
Very few people like to wait for anyone or anything. There is little time for waiting in our fast-paced lives. If patience is a virtue, mine has gone into hiding. The older I get the more impatient I’m becoming. I want to get where I’m going fast, get what I need and get my tasks done as soon as feasibly possible. I don’t want to be held up, put off, or hindered by other people who aren’t in the same hurry.
“Other people’s procrastination doesn’t bother me,
until they make me wait.” BRC
How many times have you said or been told, “Be patient.” while being made to wait. It’s like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard. It usually means someone has already made us wait and is extending the waiting past a tolerable limit. Regrettably, waiting isn’t something we do well. It’s a miserable task that stretches our sanity on a good day.
The dictionary defines patience this way:
Patience – Noun
1 : the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient.
Patient – Adjective
1 : bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2 : manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3 : not hasty or impetuous
4 : steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity
Merriam-Webster (2021 Online) Dictionary
Ouch that stings. It’s pretty clear I’m lacking in this area. It’s a lot to live up to. But, look at the Greek definition of “patience” used in the II Peter 1:6 passage:
Greek #5281 – hupomone
From 5268; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy—
enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting)
This definition includes two words I really like, “cheerful & hopeful.” It’s a lot easier to endure trials and temptations when we are happy and have hope. When we believe something will improve or happen when and how we wish it would, we’re more willing to wait patiently for it.
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4
There is no doubt we will face temptations that will try our faith and work our patience to the bone, but, we can cheer up and keep waiting. God will meet our needs and help us endure.
When our faith is tried and patience is joyfully exercised, hope follows. So, let’s stick another rose in our vase and add more patience to our faith while we wait to see how God helps us through our trials.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope.” Romans 15:14
Bring It Home
What are we waiting for?
Do you want to join me in trying to exercise more patience this week?
Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC
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