“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36
Patience is a character quality of God that can be developed in us as we yield to the Father. Patience is able to wait with contentment. Patience trusts God is in control. Patience will surrender to the Lord with a confidence that can rest in the assurance of His love. It is by faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God (Hebrews 6:12).
When we journey through the seasons of our life, we have the opportunity to develop our patience, hallelujah! If you have little patience now, isn’t it good news that you can see your patience grow? Patience is a fruit, or result, of a mature spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Fruit is a wonderful illustration because fruit is something that starts out young and then ripens with age. God is forming patience on the inside of you as you go through the seasons He has for you.
We also will have opportunities to exercise patience when we go through seasons with other people. We all are on a journey of growth, but we’re at different stages of development. We can show more love and kindness to others when we are mature in patience.
Christ is being formed in us (Galatians 4:19). We become more like Him, and Jesus had patience with those around Him. He often reached out to the hurting and the broken, which took a lot of patience. He told truth that unraveled the lies they’ve believed. He shared a love that healed and restored the weak. He removed their shame, calmed their fears, and rid them of guilt. He made them whole! If this was Jesus’ ministry, shouldn’t it be ours as well? If we don’t want to see the broken mended, something in us isn’t like Jesus, is it? When we are Spirit-led, we will minister to those God is assigning to us to be an expression of Himself.
God doesn’t force people to change, but He loves us, waits for us, and gently leads us forward. He doesn’t push, but He will draw. We shouldn’t try to force people to move forward in their season either. If they aren’t ready to receive, then any kind of push or manipulation will not be effective. They have to want it, and they have to choose to receive it. And if we are the one in need, let’s be patient with ourselves.
When we are part of a church, ministry, business, or other group, there are other people involved. God wants us to develop patience as we grow together. Not everyone will move at the same pace, and they need our patience so we can move together through the season of our group.
Application: Patience comes from God, so look to Him to grow in it.