Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have been born into another home, culture, or religious system? We have all at one time probably imagined what our beliefs and values would have looked like if this was so. What is your view about this?
Patience is showing tolerance and fortitude toward others; accepting difficult situations from them, and God, without making demands or giving conditions. Patience is a foremost characteristic of our God, and we can only be filled with gratitude for His imputing the same character into us, His children.
In this lesson, we shall focus on how to exhibit patience in our daily lives, and what should be done to develop a more patient attitude. Read more similar posts on our Bible page of the site.
Importance of Patience
Patience settles all things.
“Better to be patient than a warrior, and better to have self-control than to capture a city.” (Proverbs 16: 32), Read further Romans 15: 1, 2 Timothy 4: 2, 1Timothy 1: 16, Galatians 5: 22-23, Colossians 1: 10-11.
You must learn patience to fulfil God’s purpose over your life. King Saul lacked this virtue and lost his throne though he was the first king of Israel. Prophet Samuel had told him to wait for him to come and present a sacrifice to God before engaging the Philistines in battle.
Still, after waiting for seven days, he ran out of patience: he became afraid and the soldiers around him were also trembling because of the enemies.
On the seventh day, Saul presented the sacrifice to God by himself, a role that belonged only to priests. As soon as he finished presenting the sacrifice, the prophet arrived. Read 1 Samuel 13:10-13.KJV.
Though this same prophet Samuel anointed David as king in place of Saul, David did not ascend the throne until after forty years. David went through a lot of situations that trained him to be patient.
Saul lost his throne to impatience; David gained the throne through patience. Now, patience is the capacity for waiting, the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties.
Overcoming the world and persecution
“In your patience possess your souls.”(Luke 21:19, KJV)
Read further: 1 Corinthians 13: 4, Philippians 4: 6.
God needs believers in the world. This is why He does not take anyone who becomes born again to heaven immediately. He expects us to manifest His glory among unbelievers here on earth therefore, we shall have to face the opposition of the world.
We shall have to face many persecutions to fulfil God’s desire on this side of existence. The reason is that the world hates God and anyone who chooses to please God. Patience is the virtue we will need every day to be able to confront this world and its various persecutions against us.
Without patience, Christians will shift ground. But patience will help a believer remain steadfast in his fight against this world and its challenges.
Patience gives hope.
Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Also, Romans 12: 12, Romans 8: 25.
There is surely hope for the people of God. A future of glory and colour awaits believers in Christ Jesus. It is patience that can stabilize us till that hope becomes a reality.
Patience helps us inherit promises.
Hebrews 6:12 says, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
There is time for everything under heaven. There is time for the fulfilment of God’s promises in our lives. When we have done all that we need to do, we will need to be patient for God to perfect all that He plans for us.
Making us perfect for His purpose
James 5:7 says, “Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.” Also: Hebrews 10: 36, James 1: 4.
Joseph exercised patience. He had seen his future and the purpose of God for his life, yet he had to wait and pass through many experiences both sweet and sour. Patience made Joseph perfect for God’s purpose to come to pass in his life. Likewise, you will need patience for God’s purpose to be fulfilled in your life.
Making us fruitful
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and virtue knowledge; And knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And godliness brotherly kindness; and brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”(2 Peter 1:5-8, KJV). Also: Romans 12: 12, Galatians 6: 9, Ephesians 4: 2.
God is never in a hurry. He expects us to add patience to our faith so we may become fruitful.
The Lord commends patience.
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”(Revelation 2:2-3, KJV)
The Lord praises and gives patience priority more than any other thing. He wants everyone to be patient in all the day-to-day activities. Especially, when we are going through tough times, patience will help us reap the fruit of our labour.
How to Cultivate the Attitude of Patience
Feed on God’s Word.
“The end of something is better than its beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.” (Ecclesiastes 7: 8,), Also Psalm 37: 7-9
Patience is God’s attribute. You can cultivate patience when you regularly feed on His Word. The Word of God contains the power of God.
Endure Hardship.
“I put all my hope in the Lord. He leaned down to me; he listened to my cry for help.” (Psalm 40: 1), Also, Romans 12: 12, Galatians 6: 9.
You can cultivate patience by being patient in difficult times. Whatever situation you find yourself in, you must learn to be patient. Most especially, you need to endure hardship when the situation demands it.
Believe in God’s Faithfulness.
“The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the person who seeks him; It’s good to wait in silence for the Lord’s deliverance. It’s good for a man to carry a yoke in his youth.” Lamentations 3: 25-27, ), Also, Exodus 14: 14, Romans 12: 12.
Our God is faithful: He can never fail to fulfil all His promises. It will be easy for you to be patient when you live in the consciousness of that truth in your life.
Be Prayerful.
“You also must patiently. Strengthening your resolve, because the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5: 8, Romans 8: 25.)
Prayer is a means of tapping God’s grace to live a godly life. Grace for patience will naturally flourish in your heart when you are committed to a life of prayer. A prayerful person is a patient person.
Never Compare yourself with another Person.
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”(2 Corinthians 10:12, KJV, Proverbs 16:32 ).
Sometimes, you can become impatient when you compare yourself with another person. Patience is the virtue of great men both in the past and now.
