Thank God for Patience

If you are like me, you have had times when you wanted something right here and now.  You did not want to wait for what you wanted. Sometimes we are very impatient! We want to be first in line, first for the promotion on the job, first pick for a date from someone we are interested in or we want to be first to be recognized for something we have done. In short, we lack patience.

Patience is sometimes very difficult because it requires us to wait for what we most long for in our lives.  It means that we have to delay our instant gratification attitude that so many of us have.  It also means that we have to allow others to go before us, and to have their needs met before our needs have been met.

The Bible speaks about the importance of patience.  As a Jesus follower, I am reminded that a life led by the Holy Spirit includes being patient.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." 

Galatians 5:22-23

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." 

Colossians 3:12-13

Not only does Scripture inform us that patience should be a part of our Christian walk, but we are reminded that God is patient!

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed ."

2 Peter 3:8-10

WOW! This is a very important point about God because His patience toward us has to do with wanting to save everyone! God is delaying judgment to give everyone a chance to reconcile with Him before it is too late! 


REMEMBER .... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!!!