Patience

Patience

The young woman has come to you seeking solace and understanding. She asserts that her burdens are not her own fault, and she is deeply troubled by the reasons behind her suffering. She feels abused, misused, misunderstood, and mistreated, and she expresses a lack of concern for the impact her actions have on others. She is consumed by self-centeredness, and you are called upon by our Lord and Savior to provide her with the help and guidance she desperately needs. Your prayers are essential in this journey of healing and redemption.

As she rambles on, you feel uncomfortable. You listen attentively to her concerns, and time seems to crawl by. When you finally glance at the clock, it feels like hours have passed, yet it’s only been a few minutes. Your instincts urge you to take action. You wish she would steer the conversation in a more productive direction, speed it up, and finally bring it to an end. But as you look at the clock again, you realize that you’ve been waiting for just twenty minutes. Your patience is wearing thin.

The paragraphs above illustrate a minor tribulation, a situation where a person exhausts their patience. 

Patience, a divine gift, enables us to wait upon the Lord, willingly sacrificing our desires and needs to the authority of God. 

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

Tribulation, as defined, is a test of one’s faith. When someone exclaims, “I have no patience!” it’s a clear indication that their faith lacks the strength to withstand tribulations. Therefore, it’s essential to cultivate a strong faith to endure the practice of patience. Patience is demonstrated through our choices, which we make with faith. By patiently nurturing these choices in the Lord, we cultivate patience through prayer, hope, and allowing our decisions to mature. 

Patiently working through your mistakes, offering a loving hand to those who fail, gently pruning those mistakes, and nurturing the right choices into fruition. Patiently trusting that your faith will equip you with the knowledge and wisdom to successfully endure and transform…and patiently waiting for the results of your choices.

Patience stems from self-denial. God the Father bestowed upon us the gift of free will, allowing us to shape our own destinies. Our human father, Adam, possessed the power to make choices between right and wrong. Pride and denial are the common threads that connect right and wrong. Adam’s free will, driven by pride, lacked self-denial and was entirely self-centered. 

Being self-centered and prideful can be defined as wanting what you want, when you want it, and having it right now, all because it’s all about you. This is stated in the Bible: 1 John 2:16. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father, but from the world. Adam’s pride and self-centered decision led to the curse of death for his children and their descendants.

Adams' sin is addressed in the next verse;

1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

If you replace “I want,” with “Jesus wants,” a dramatic transformation takes place. It becomes, “I want what Jesus wants,” “when Jesus wants it,” and “Jesus wants it right now” because it is the Will of God! 

Patience is intrinsically linked to charity. Charity is the divine gift of accepting life’s circumstances as they are despite others' flaws and imperfections. It is the plan of Grace bestowed upon us by God. We are unworthy of His divine plan, yet in His infinite mercy, He extends the plan of Grace to us regardless of our actions. We are commanded to demonstrate charity when individuals engage in unseemly or sinful behavior in any given situation. Charity embodies love and comprehension of God’s will in our lives. Without charity, patience becomes an elusive virtue.  

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

Patience and endurance are distinct concepts. Endurance refers to the ability to endure a condition or affliction, while patience is a virtue that allows one to endure such conditions with composure and acceptance. It is possible to endure unpleasant behavior from another person without losing patience, demonstrating the distinction between these two qualities.  

Endurance and long-suffering are two different concepts. Long-suffering involves enduring hardships without any enjoyment or sense of accomplishment, while endurance refers to the ability to persevere through difficult situations. If you consistently endure ill behavior from your child, spouse, or friend, you will eventually lose patience with them. Patience is a virtue that requires submitting your will to authority and trusting in the Lord’s commands. By doing so, you can turn your long-suffering over to God. Obeying the Lord’s commandments willingly leads to eternal life.

The Spirit of the Lord wants you to step back and wait for him:

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The test of your faith teaches patience, which in turn helps you overcome obstacles and trials, enabling you to conquer the world. Successfully overcoming these challenges instills in you unwavering assurance through the Holy Ghost that the Lord’s promises are indeed true.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations as well, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 
Romans 5:4 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

The genuine secret to cultivating patience lies in this: Practicing patience involves learning to engage in an alternative activity while you wait.

By: Bro. Charles Cohenour Jr.