Why We Can't Have Patience Immediately

Wouldn't it be nice to have instant patience? That would help us get through life and especially trials with less stress. But God has valid reasons for teaching us patience.

Patience is actually the end result of trials of our faith. Check out what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:3 and 4 (BBE) about our faith in Christ's promises. "And not only so, but let us have joy in our troubles: in the knowledge that trouble gives us the power of waiting; And waiting gives experience; and experience, hope:"

If we want to learn patience and grow spiritually, we must go through the testing of our faith. As James 1:3 and 4 (BBE) reminds us, "Because you have the knowledge that the testing of your faith gives you the power of going on in hope; But let this power have its full effect, so that you may be made complete, needing nothing."

Like anything worthwhile, patience can't be rushed. As James 5:7 (BBE) reminds us, "Go on waiting calmly, my brothers, till the coming of the Lord, like the farmer waiting for the good fruit of the earth till the early and late rains have come."

We also see that patience is just one attribute we must acquire to become mature believers. We read in 2 Peter 1:5-8 (BBE) that in light of the glories of Christ's return, "So, for this very cause, take every care; joining virtue to faith, and knowledge to virtue, And self-control to knowledge, and a quiet mind to self-control, and fear of God to a quiet mind,  And love of the brothers to fear of God, and to love of the brothers, love itself. For if you have these things in good measure, they will make you fertile and full of fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Our forefathers in the faith suffered greatly, yet they kept their focus on the reward of the Kingdom to come. John was sent to a barren island as a prisoner. But examine his steadfast attitude toward this harsh punishment in Revelation 1:9 (BBE). "I, John, your brother, who have a part with you in the trouble and the kingdom and the quiet strength of Jesus, was in the island which is named Patmos, for the word of God and the witness of Jesus." From that miserable place came the final book of the Bible.

Most of us won't be called to such an extreme test of our faith and expectation of God's purifying work in our souls. Nevertheless, let's keep in mind what Hebrews 12:1 and 2 (BBE) admonishes us. "For this reason, as we are circled by so great a cloud of witnesses, putting off every weight, and the sin into which we come so readily, let us keep on running in the way which is marked out for us, Having our eyes fixed on Jesus, the guide and end of our faith, who went through the pains of the cross, not caring for the shame, because of the joy which was before him, and who has now taken his place at the right hand of God's seat of power."

On Saturday, I hope to publish a post about how it can be hard or even dangerous to return to one's birth place.