#Patience
Patience isn’t something most of us are born with. It surely doesn’t come automatically the moment we take a breath-it’s developed. It’s a process. It takes time.
Children are not automatically patient. As mom looking back, I can’t even count the number of times I told my children “just be patient” or “in a minute!” When you stop to analyze that statement it’s actually quite funny. A little child? Be patient? Most adults struggle with being patient, yet we expect our children to ‘be patient.’
Most people, including children, truly don’t understand what this word means. “Patience.” Yet we expect it from everybody. But are WE being patient?
Children learn patience when it’s demonstrated. They live what they see demonstrated. It is learned over time but so are other characteristics.
I know as a mom, there were times when I demonstrated patience with my children, yes; but there were MUCH more times when I didn’t. I wish I could change that now. I can’t. I was still ‘fruit’ in the process of being developed at the time I was raising my children…
Webster defines it this way:
Patience:
“the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. The ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.”
The word “patience” historically comes from the Latin, patientia, meaning suffering, which also gives us the word patient, referring to someone who is suffering from being sick or injured.
“Patience” is one of the fruits of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22) Fruit takes time to ripen. So does patience.
The Strong Concordance for the original Greek word translated to our English language for patience is:
#8318 pa’-shens (hupomone, makrothumia):
“Patience” implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. As such it is an essential Christian virtue to the exercise of which there are many exhortations.
We need to “wait patiently” for God, to endure uncomplainingly the various forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils that we meet with, and to bear patiently injustices which we cannot remedy and provocations we cannot remove.
PATIENCE: The quality of forbearance and self-control which shows itself particularly in a willingness to wait upon God and his will. Believers are called upon to be patient in their expectations of God’s actions, and in their relationships with one another.
Patience is often hard to gain and to hard to maintain, but, in Romans 15:5, God is called “the God of patience” as being able to grant that grace to those who look to Him and depend on Him for it.
It is in reliance on God and acceptance of His will, with trust in His goodness, wisdom and faithfulness, that we are enabled to be patient, endure, and to hope stedfastly.
“Patience” is a form of #Love
In 1 Corinthians 13:4, “LOVE is patient.”
Ahhhhhh.
This is key.
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
We are to walk in love. (Ephesians 5:2)
When we are patient with one another,
we are demonstrating Gods love. When we are patient with ourselves, we are receiving Gods love.
While we strive to be patient all the time, to be loving all the time, we fail.
Progress takes time. We’re all human.
Praise God that HE never fails! He is ALWAYS patient with us, ALWAYS loving towards us.
Join me today to commit to exercise our patience with one another.
#FaithActs!
IAMJESUSGAL 