Patience is a virtue: 6 ways to grow in this fruit of the spirit

The origin of the popular saying "patience is a virtue" comes from a poem around 1360. However, even before then the Bible often mentions patience as a valuable character quality.

So what exactly is the meaning of patience?

Well, patience is more commonly defined as the ability to accept or tolerate delays, problems or suffering without getting angry or angry. In other words, patience is essentially "wait with grace". Part of being a Christian is the ability to gracefully accept unfortunate circumstances while having faith that we will eventually find a solution in God.

What is virtue and why is it important?

Virtue is synonymous with noble character. It simply means the quality or practice of moral excellence and is one of the central tenants of Christianity. Being virtuous is essential to enjoying a healthy life and building healthy relationships!

In Galatians 5:22, patience is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. If patience is a virtue, then waiting is the best (and often the most unpleasant) means by which the Holy Spirit increases patience in us.

But our culture does not appreciate patience in the same way as God. Why be patient? Instant gratification is much more fun! Our growing ability to instantly satisfy our desires can take away the blessing of learning to wait well.

What does "wait well" mean anyway?

Here are six ways to let yourself be guided by the scriptures to await your common sense and sanctification - ultimately the glory of God:

1. Patience waits in silence
In the article Kate writes, Lamentations 3: 25-26 says: “The Lord is good to those who hope in him, for the soul that seeks him. It is good that we must wait in silence for the salvation of the Lord.

What does it mean to wait in silence? Without complaints? I am embarrassed to admit that my children have heard me moan impatiently when the red light does not turn green as soon as I would like. What else do I moan and complain about when I don't want to wait? The long lines at McDonald's drive-thru? The slow cashier in the bank? Am I setting an example of waiting in silence, or do I make everyone know I'm not happy? "

2. Patience waits impatiently
Hebrews 9: 27-28 says: "And just as man is appointed to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting impatiently for it. "

Kate explains this in her article, saying: Am I looking forward to it? Or am I waiting with an awkward and impatient heart?

According to Romans 8:19, 23, "... creation awaits the revelation of the children of God with ardent desire ... And not only the creation, but ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we groan inwardly as we eagerly await adoption as children, the redemption of our bodies. "

Is my life characterized by an enthusiasm for my redemption? Do other people see enthusiasm in my words, in my actions, in my facial expressions? Or am I just looking forward to material and material things?

3. Patience waits until the end
Hebrews 6:15 says: "And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Abraham patiently waited for God to lead him to the Promised Land - but remember that deviation he took for the promise of an heir?

In Genesis 15: 5, God told Abraham that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. At that time, "Abraham believed the Lord and attributed it to him as justice." (Genesis 15: 6)

Kate writes: “But perhaps over the years, Abram got tired of waiting. Maybe his patience weakened. The Bible does not tell us what he was thinking, but when his wife, Sarai, suggested that Abram had a son with their slave, Hagar, Abraham agreed.

If you continue reading in Genesis, you will see that it did not go so well for Abraham when he took things into his hands rather than waiting for the promise of the Lord to be fulfilled. Waiting does not automatically produce patience.

“Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the earth to produce his precious crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and be steadfast, because the coming of the Lord is near. " (James 5: 7-8)

4. Patience waits waiting
Perhaps you had a legitimate vision given by God as successful as Abraham. But life has taken a wild turn and the promise seems to never happen.

In Rebecca Barlow Jordan's article "3 simple ways to" let patience have its perfect job ", reminds us of Oswald Chambers' classic devotional My maximum to the highest. Chambers writes, "God gives us a vision, and then knocks us downstream to hit us in the form of that vision. It is in the valley that so many of us surrender and pass out. Every vision given by God will become real if we only have patience. "

We know from Philippians 1: 6 that God will finish what begins. And the psalmist encourages us to continue asking God for our request even while we are waiting for him to fulfill it.

“In the morning, Lord, hear my voice; in the morning I ask you my requests and wait. "(Psalm 5: 3)

5. Patience waits with joy
Rebecca also says this about patience:

“Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, every time you face trials of various kinds, because you know that testing your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its job so that you can be mature and complete, you will not miss anything. "(James 1: 2-4)

Sometimes our character has deep flaws that we can't see right now, but God can. And he won't ignore them. Gently, persistently, he punches us, helping us to see our sin. God doesn't give up. He is patient with us, even when we are not patient with Him. Of course, it is easier if we listen and obey the first time, but God will not stop purifying his people until we reach paradise. This test of waiting doesn't have to be just a painful season. You can be happy that God is at work in your life. It is growing good fruit in you!

6. Patience is waiting for you gracefully
All of this is much easier said than done, right? Waiting patiently is not easy and God knows it. The good news is that you don't have to wait alone.

Romans 8: 2-26 says: “But if we hope for what we don't have yet, we wait patiently for it. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don't know what we should pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless moans. "

God not only calls you to patience, but also helps you in your weakness and prays for you. We cannot be patient on our own if we work harder. Patients are a fruit of the Spirit, not of our flesh. Therefore, we need the help of the Spirit to cultivate it in our lives.

The only thing we shouldn't wait
Finally, Kate writes: There are many things worth waiting for, and many things that we should learn to be more patient about - but there is one thing we should definitely not postpone for another second. This is recognizing Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives.

We have no idea when our time will end here or when Jesus Christ will return. It could be today. It could be tomorrow. But "all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

If you haven't recognized your need for a Savior and declared Jesus as Lord of your life, don't wait another day.