The Fruit of Patience

Patience is a virtue…I do not possess. I don’t know how many times I have said that, or heard others repeat it. Patience is difficult, and what is worse, it seems to require trials in order to acquire it. Patience is not natural to anyone. Watch a child who has to wait for…anything. It is not only something we have to learn, but it is also something we can only gain from God. The whole mentality of the world is that we can and should “have it NOW!” Even though in most things we can see that patience is the better way, for instance, waiting for the cake to bake all the way instead of taking it out too soon, or waiting for the coffee to cool before we drink it. Impatience usually “burns” us, one way or another. How can we gain more patience?

I think patience, even more than most of the other “fruit,” is one that comes largely as a product of our relationship with God. It is not as easy to gain by simply working at it. Of course we should strive for patience, but it is less of a direct effort as it is a status of relationship.

The technical definition of being patient is: uncomplaining, tolerant, and persevering. These show three different aspects of patience which are worth considering.

Uncomplaining

Rather than asking what we complain about, it may be the shorter to ask what we don’t complain about. Social media especially seems to be a means of making our every complaint known. Patience isn’t merely waiting, it is “waiting with composure.”

This also carries with it the idea of contentment. If we are content, we have nothing for which to complain. But when we complain, we show displeasure, not only with our situation, but ultimately with God. Check out Numbers 11. The Israelites were in the wilderness after leaving Egypt and were complaining because they had no meat to eat. Note that this was after the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and everything that happened at Mt Sinai, not to mention having the miraculous, daily provision of manna. And yet they grumbled against God, comparing Him to Egypt and wishing to return there. They were discontent with what God had given them and so were discontent with God Himself, not trusting that what He gave them was the best, nor bothering to ask Him for what they wanted. They were greedy and self focused, and lost sight of all that God had done for them and the many blessings they had to be thankful for.

How often do we focus on what is happening to us rather than focusing on God and what He has given us? Yes, a dirty house is not fun to deal with, but it is a house, a place to live that is probably a lot better than most people have. No it is not pleasant to have people treat us poorly, but do we ALWAYS treat others with the greatest love and respect? Part of patience is being thankful in the midst of the trouble, rather than focusing on and griping about the trouble itself. Everyone has problems. We can either live for God or live for ourselves through those trials.

Tolerant

This goes along with uncomplaining, but refers more to our actions toward others as opposed to our words and thoughts.

Colossians 3:12-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

We need to be patient with others in that when someone does something which hurts, offends or even just annoys us we don’t hold on to it. We let it go and forgive. We move on and try to live at peace with each other. If we left off there we may not see the whole picture though. Tolerance is more than just putting up with someone as we see in the next verse.

Colossians 3:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

In order to “put on love” we must forgive and not let that issue affect our relationship. True, biblical tolerance is putting away whatever happened and putting on love and forgiveness. How different would our world be if all Christians were truly, biblically tolerant?

Persevering

This is where the word “long-suffering” comes from. Patience is enduring not only momentary annoyances with grace, but also withstanding lengthy, even life-long, difficulties without allowing those circumstances to make us bitter, callous, or harsh.

James 5:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Job’s response to his horrible circumstances was to praise God and trust that He would take care of everything. He didn’t become bitter, he didn’t give up hope. He endured with faith and did not complain even though he had every right to.

Luke 8:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

In order to bear good fruit we must persevere. Bitterness, depression or callousness creates bad fruit. In order to bear good fruit, we must seek God; we must immerse our lives in Him and allow our troubles to drive us deeper into Him.

Romans 5:3-5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We always produce fruit; the question is what kind of fruit are we producing? Perseverance produces the fruit of good character. The opposite of perseverance, giving up or avoiding/fleeing trials, produces bitterness, hopelessness, and unfaithfulness.

The key to all of these aspects of patience is being rooted in God. As I said at the beginning, patience is primarily a fruit of the Spirit, as opposed to something we work on ourselves. Patience comes from being so deeply rooted in God that annoyances don’t bother us, offenses don’t wound us, trials result in praise and gratitude instead of grumbling. It produces contentment and forgiveness, love and endurance.

The way it does this is that when we are immersed in God we have a more true perspective. We have more grace with others, more easily overlooking their faults because we realize that we all fall short and it is only the grace of God which makes any of us any good. We are grateful for everything God has given us, rather than being consumed by what we don’t have. We keep our eyes on the prize, the end goal, which is Christ, and so are better able to endure to the end the long road before us. It is not so much that we change our focus and perspective, but that being so deeply rooted in God changes it for us. If we seek God with everything we have, the rest will be added.

Focus on being rooted in God and bear His patience.