by Barbara Latta
Fruit of the Spirit Series – Patience
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| 3 reasons patience is a positive experience. |
As you can see in the verse above the New King James Version
lists longsuffering as a fruit of the Spirit. This is also translated as
patience in other versions. We don’t like to think of being patient when we
want something, but to call it longsuffering makes it worse.
Why should we want to suffer at all and especially long? No
way!
But when we look at the correct meaning of the word, we can
get a better picture of what God is telling us.
“Strengthened with all
might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with
joy” (Colossians 1:11 NKJV).
Scriptural patience is defined in Strong’s Concordance as, “forbearance
or fortitude.” This gives us a different picture of waiting.
Patience is simply staying firm and steadfast in our faith
without changing what we believe until our answer from God comes.
We can have joyful expectancy
When a woman is pregnant, she must wait for the baby to
arrive at the perfect time. If the child was born too early, it would be
dangerous and the infant might not survive. The process of growing brings the
product of waiting to the perfect culmination. Even when the pregnancy is not
evident to all, the mother knows the process has begun. She wants to hold and
see this baby, but she knows she isn’t going to do it now. There is joyful
expectancy because the outcome is known even though it is not in her possession
yet. Yes, there are some uncomfortable moments. There is longsuffering with
joy, but it is minimal compared to the gift she will behold.
We can have joyful expectancy when waiting for promises of
God to be fulfilled in our lives the same way. Our waiting can be a positive
experience rather than the painful image we have of longsuffering.
3 reasons patience is
a positive experience
- Patience shows we trust God: When we don’t see the answers to our prayers immediately, we sometimes question God. When we pray according to God’s will He is working, but we don’t always know what is going on behind the scenes in the spiritual world. God brings things into our lives through other people. When they don’t respond to His direction, what we wanted may be delayed. He may have to work in the hearts of someone else to accomplish His answer to us. All this time we are waiting and wondering where our answer is. But when we hold on to the Word of God, He will come through because He does not lie. (Jeremiah 29:11)
- Patience is an example to others: When someone isn’t treating us right, our restraint against them can be an example of the way God wants them to be treated. Showing patience with them can be an example of God’s character. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
- Patience builds our faith: When we are experiencing a trial and waiting for an answer to prayer or the culmination of a seed we planted to sprout, we can look back at previous times in our lives where God has always fulfilled His promise. We can see that an answer did come, and it will materialize this time, too. (Galatians 6:9)
When we pray, the answer to our problems is in the
development stage the same way the unborn baby
is. All the solutions God has
must come to fruition before they can be born. We can have joyful expectancy
while waiting for the birth of our answers if we will see it from God’s
perspective. We ask, believe, meditate on His word, and know He hears us (I John
5:14).
His glorious power gives us the ability to know our answer
will be born at the right time.
What does patience mean to you? Share your thoughts.
While I have some level of each fruit of the Spirit today, patience is one of the ones I continue to pray be increased in me. Isn't it funny, how when we ask God to grow us, He places us in situations designed to do exactly that. "Doing = Growing" God's blessings; and thank you for this great post Ms. Barbara.
ReplyDeleteThanks, J.D. for sharing. Yes, we sometimes complain about growing after asking for that very thing!
DeleteBarbara, you shared meaningful perspective on patience by using a good analogy. Thank you! When tempted to become impatient, I hope to remember that remaining patient is one way to show trust in God.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Jeannie, and sharing your thoughts!
DeleteWhat a rich comparison, Barbara! I never related the joyful expectancy of carrying a child to patience. Waiting for God to answer our prayers can be difficult but it's a blessing to think of it as joyful expectancy of receiving His answer. I love this!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sherry. I remember those months of waiting. You think it will never end, but when you hold that baby, it's all different! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
DeleteWhat a wonderful perspective. I love the illustration of a woman waiting to give birth. What a powerful image of how important it is to seek God's gift of patience in our lives.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joshua. Yes, His patience is a gift to us. Blessings!
DeletePatience is trusting God even when I can't see what's ahead because He is Good. And His timing is right. So often we think we are waiting for God...sometimes God is waiting for us. He is accomplishing things in us and around us that are dependent on more than our patience. Our character. People around us. Circumstances. Like every detail in the Bible and it happening at the moment God ordained. All for a reason!!!
ReplyDeleteJeanne, I love what you said about patience is trusting God when we can't see what's ahead. Yes, because He is good. Thank you so much for sharing that! Blessings
DeleteOh, I need patience and I want it right now! What is that old saying? "If we pray for patience God will send us trials so that we will learn patience." There is a lot of truth to that, I think. Barbara, I appreciate the way you defined patience as fortitude and the connection you made to trust. We cannot be patient without trust and I think that's a link that is often overlooked. Thank you for this inspiring message.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katherine, for sharing your thoughts. Blessings!
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