Patience is a virtue. Luke 21:19 states, “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Patience is steadfastness, constancy, endurance, perseverance. The Geneva commentary tells us that though you are surrounded on all sides with many miseries, yet nonetheless be valiant and courageous, and bear out these things bravely. One Pastor wrote, “I have not so great a struggle with my vices, great and numerous as they are, as I have with my impatience.” If you want to help the cause of Christ, work on your patience.
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” Romans 12:12. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” I Thessalonians 5:14. The importance of patience cannot be overstated. Spurgeon wrote, “There is not a more God honoring grace of the Christian character than patience….it will enable you to bear with dignity, calmness and submission the rebuke of the world and the wounding of the saints.” With what thoughtless and impatient hands we tangle up the plans the Lord hath wrought. The verses are endless, but let me draw your attention to some of them. “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15. “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;” Colossians 1:11. “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” Titus 2:2.
A.W.Tozer, in his book “The Pursuit of God” writes, “A generation of Christians reared among push buttons and automatic machines is impatient of slower and less direct methods of reaching their goals. We have been trying to apply machine-age methods to our relations with God. We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting… The tragic results of this spirit are all about us: Shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies,… the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit. These and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul.”
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;…” Isaiah 40:31. Eugene Peterson writes, “In prayer, we are aware that God is in action and that when the circumstances are ready, when others are in the right place, and when our hearts are prepared, he will call us into the action. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts.” Waiting, for a lot of people, is interpreted as pain, inconvenience, punishment or a waste of time. Waiting in the Bible is interpreted as patience.
“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4.