As a progressive, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to God; this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
In Galatians 5 there is a list called the Fruit of the Spirit. As we stay connected to God , the Spirit of God will grow in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These wonderful qualities are attributes of God. Let’s allow God’s light to shine in us, so that it will nourish the health and maturity of this fruit.
Patience is a strange creature; it’s not always easy to learn patience. There’s a story of someone asking a friend, “Will you please pray for me that I may be more patient?” So they prayed together and the friend began to pray. “Lord, send my friend tribulation in the morning; send her tribulation in the afternoon, and send her…” At that point the friend shouted, “No, no, I didn’t ask you to pray for tribulation. I wanted you to pray for patience.” “Ah,” replied the older and wiser friend, “it’s through trials and tribulation that we learn patience.”
So, what is patience? Let’s look at some definitions:
Patience is self-restraint which doesn’t quickly retaliate against a wrong.” That’s pretty good – when someone wrongs you, how do you respond – with patience or with anger?
Patience is the ability to accept delay or disappointment graciously. This can be more difficult for some. How do you deal with delay or disappointment? Patience is the ability to accept it without becoming upset.
Patience is the powerful attribute that enables one to remain calm under stress and pressure and continue to keep on going. Maybe this is where you are now; you’re tired, you’re stressed, you’re on the edge. Patience is the quality that says, “This too shall pass. I will get through this. I can keep on going.”
Here’s a great one. Patience is the calm endurance based on the certain knowledge that God is in control.
Even though we can acknowledge God is in control and we are able remain calm under pressure, we live in an impatient world. Everything has to move at the highest speed possible. I mean, if it takes more than a couple seconds for our cell phone signal to go to outer space to a satellite and back and connect to another line we wonder what’s wrong with our ancient phone service! Or we turn on the computer in the morning and it takes forever (like 90 seconds) for it to boot up so can get on Facebook and have Instant Messaging.
And for some of us low-tech people, we can get impatient anywhere. Anywhere there’s a line of people. Why is it taking so long for these people to move? Why do people in Southern California only drive 65 in a 65 mph zone? And we get on planes that travel 600 mph and complain when we arrive at our destination on the other side of the continent five minutes late!
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace … patience!
Now, just to be clear, Paul is not saying here that the fruit of the Spirit is slowness. The fruit of the Spirit is not laziness or apathy. You’re not more spiritual if you sit in the waiting room at your doctor’s office patiently for three hours past your scheduled appointment without even asking what’s taking so long.
On the other hand, when Paul speaks of patience here, he’s also not condemning people who have a sense of urgency. It’s not wrong to want to get things done and be productive. It’s not wrong to be impatient when people who are being paid to get work done are wasting time. That’s not what Paul is addressing here.
Patience here is from the Greek word “hypomone” which is a compound word, made up of two other words: hypo “under” and moneo “to remain” or “abide”. The idea is to “remain under” or “abide under” difficult circumstances, as when it’s not possible to escape or avoid them.
Remember that prayer for tribulation when someone asked for patience? Patience is the Spirit-given ability to suffer well. It’s the ability to endure the afflictions without complaining. It’s the grace of perseverance. It’s the ability to get the short end of the stick in life and accept it. When we pray, “Not my will, but your will be done”, that is the spiritual fruit of patience.
Do you ever feel as though it seems that God has no knowledge of your situation? “God, where are you?” We think, if God loved me, things would be different. Or, since things are the way they are, God must be upset with me. If God is so loving and kind why are these difficult things happening in my life? Why doesn’t God answer my prayer? I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this.”
Isaiah 40 says:
“Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these?
God who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name;
Because God is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing …
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the Earth.
God does not faint or grow weary; God’s understanding is unsearchable.
God gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Be patient. Persevere. God hasn’t forgotten you. God calls out the stars every night by name. God certainly knows your name, and God knows you’re weary and exhausted. Wait on God – you don’t have to do anything – just wait…and God will give you strength.
Paul says in Philippians 4: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The secret in being able to endure all circumstances well is to be patient in waiting – waiting for God and the strength God gives in our times of need. You can do this. You can make it through this test.
Wait on God. Be patient. Persevere. Don’t despair. Don’t give up. God will strengthen you.
I think this spiritual gift of patience is well-placed in Paul’s list. He starts his list by saying the fruit of the Spirit is love (that’s good!), joy (that’s good too!), peace (that’s really good!). Why not stop there? Love, joy and peace – a perfect pairing. And then he adds patience. Why? It was all going so well. Guess what, we all know that life isn’t all about love, joy and peace. It’s also about patience, about strength in adversity and weathering the storm. God doesn’t save us from troubles, however, I know from personal experience, that God provides strength in our troubles.
Amen
