Patience is a Virtue!

One of my favorite sayings to my kids is “Patience is a virtue”. Whenever they are nagging me for something, I remind them of it in hopes that they will quiet down. One thing I know about patience is that I am fairly good at it if everything is going my way. Over the last few weeks, I have come to hate the virtue quote. The patience with my healing process is wearing thin, and I almost found myself throwing a tantrum this morning after physical therapy. I am sure I am becoming a nag to my therapist as I keep asking can I do this or can I do that…can I, can I?! Thankfully, he hasn’t used the quote on me yet, but I have a feeling he wants to.

So today’s lesson is for me…and maybe you if you find your patience is running on empty. 

Galatians 5:22 talks about the fruit of the Spirit, and patience just so happens to be included in the list. As followers of Christ, we should produce patience because it reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence, and love. I for one have faith in God’s timing; however, sometimes I hate that it takes so long! But, I have to remember He knows what He’s doing.

The thing about patience is that it doesn’t necessarily mean for us to passively wait with gentle tolerance. In fact, according to Hebrews 12:1, we should “run with patience the race that is set before us.” In this case, it means “endurance.” We should therefore push through life’s trials expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.

Here are some other verses in the Bible that tells us about patience: Colossians 1:11 tells us that we are strengthened by God to “great endurance and patience.” James 1:3-4 lets us know that trials are God’s way of perfecting our patience. Our patience is rewarded in the end “because the Lord's coming is near” (James 5:7-8). “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25).

Lack of patience I have discovered leads to stress, anger, and lots of frustration. These are normal reactions to it! But, as Christians, we do not need to be held captive to that response. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Thank God for your situation and seek His purposes. Romans 8:28 says, “All things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Yes, even those things that test our patience.

So, I’m counting to ten now and praying while I am doing it. God will get me through this trial, and He will do the same for you. Have patience, my dear! Because, after all, patience is a virtue!