February 19, 2025
Praying Friends,
How often have you honked your horn at the vehicle in front of you for failing to leave the traffic light a millisecond after it turned green? How often have you sat impatiently in the doctor’s office, annoyed at the wait? How often have you stressed over “this” season of life with all its trials and problems and longed for it to pass quickly?
How often have you heard it said that patience is a virtue? Probably hundreds! The truth is that patience is a virtue and it is developed over time and adversity.
Patience is the next garment given to us in the list of spiritual clothes that we are to put on.
Paul says, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12 NIV).
In this verse, the word for patience conveys the idea of forbearance and both internal and external self-control in challenging situations. It can be demonstrated by delaying a reaction. Some translations render it as “longsuffering".
Longsuffering includes putting up with people who irritate you. While your natural reaction might be to retaliate, you choose patience instead. The Holy Spirit’s work in you increases your endurance.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) explains, “Patience implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. As such it is an essential Christian virtue to the exercise of which there are many exhortations. We need to “wait patiently” for God, to endure uncomplainingly the various forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils that we meet with, and to bear patiently injustices which we cannot remedy and provocations we cannot remove.”
So that’s what patience is, but what does it mean to wear this difficult garment?
Firstly, it means that God will allow the hard things of life to teach us more of Himself.
Life will be difficult whether or not you choose to learn from it. You have the option of being angry at God and complaining about how things have gone in your life, or you can choose to thank Him and learn from those trials.
I can’t imagine the pain that Job and his wife experienced when God allowed Satan to attack their lives (Job 1:6-2:10). God allowed his property, his livelihood, his children, and his health to be taken away in a short span of time.
Job’s response was, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). In contrast to Job, we see his wife’s impatience through her words, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).
The apostle James said, “You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11).
It wasn’t easy, but being patient in trial taught Job that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. What a beautiful outcome from such extreme suffering.
Secondly, to wear patience requires divine enabling. Patience is not a resignation of our spirits, but rather an acceptance that God has a plan for our lives.
It’s essential to remember that God is with us in all the hardships of life. He has promised never to leave us and, thankfully, He gives us the strength to not only go through difficulties, but also to produce fruit for His glory.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).
The Holy Spirit produces patience as we cooperate with and surrender to His work in our lives. And there is no limit to the fruit of the Spirit.
Elizabeth Elliott, who lived from 1926–2015, was a missionary and author known for her incredible patience, forgiveness, and faithfulness to God's plan.
She trusted God through the sad loss of her husband, Jim, who was martyred in 1956 by the very tribe they were trying to reach with the gospel in Ecuador. Instead of becoming bitter or abandoning her mission, she patiently waited for God’s guidance.
Later when the opportunity arose, she chose to live among and minister to her husband’s killers, in an incredible act of patience and grace. Because of her patience, she was able to share the gospel with the Waorani people and witness the salvation and transformation of many.
Elizabeth Elliot’s life shows that patience is not just waiting—it’s trusting God’s timing, and relying heavily upon His strength.
Thank you for praying for our prodigals and for revival among us.
Love in Christ,
Bryan and Rachel
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