The Call To Be Patient

Life is full of opportunities for one to be trained in patience.

What is your understanding of the word patience? Would you consider yourself a patient person?

In Hebrew, the word refers to being slow to anger, while in Greek, the word has a close meaning to that of Hebrew, referring to self-restraint, which is the ability to hold oneself from retaliating a wrong. The word has also been translated as long-suffering. The Greek language for long-suffering or endurance is hypomone, and that for patience is makrothumia. The words are often used synonymously. In English, patience means the ability to tolerate or bear with delays and also to suffer graciously without becoming annoyed or anxious. All these words can be seen to have similar meanings and are related to our experiences in various ways.

Biblical Examples of Long-Suffering

The scriptures provide many examples of patient individuals. Their stories challenge us to exercise patience ourselves.

1. Job: In Job’s story, we have the most vivid expression of a just man patiently enduring great tribulation. He teaches us how, as God’s people, we must respond in the face of suffering. Job 1:1 tells us that Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Many times, we suffer and think of it as unfair. When someone treats us unkindly, it is easier for us to fight back. Yet God expects us not to retaliate against a wrong. Job encourages and comforts us to bear anything for the sake of God.
2. Christ: Jesus Christ was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). He is the ultimate model of patience. His patience is seen in his passion for the cross, and he offers a perfect example to Christians. He was blameless in all ways, yet he experienced the worst death of all without defending himself. He calls us to take his yoke upon ourselves and learn from him, for he is gentle and humble in heart, and we will find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29).
3. Early Church: Long-suffering was characteristic of the early Christians. Paul encouraged the Romans to rejoice in their sufferings because they knew that such sufferings produce patience (a proven virtue), and patience produces hope (Romans 5:3-4). Among the qualities that guide the church, the key is love, defined as patience in 1 Corinthians 13:4. The proofs of true and faithful servants of Christ are purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness (2 Cor 6:4-6).
4. Christians Under Roman Persecution:  After the apostles were cruelly killed, many Christians had to make the same choice: patient endurance in the face of persecution. St. Cyprian of Carthage suffered martyrdom under Emperor Valerian in the year 254. He said that Christian patience originates from God and hence cannot be matched by the world’s understanding of patience (Galatians 5:22). As servants and worshippers of God, we owe him this tribute: to show the patience we learn from his teachings in our conduct. St. Augustine argues that true patience is recognized only through its cause. Patience is real when its cause is good. All who know have knowledge, but not all who suffer have the virtue of patience. Those who suffer aright merit praise for their true patience; they are crowned with the reward of patience. 

Biblical Examples of Self-Restraint

As we mentioned earlier, patience also refers to self-restraint. If one is wronged, the desire is usually to avenge oneself. God calls us to refrain from retaliating against a wrong. Romans 12:17 says that we should not repay evil for evil. We are instead called to seek for that which is good for all people at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:15). We are also called to give a blessing instead of repaying evil with evil (1 Peter 3:9). A few examples of such people who restrained themselves from repaying evil for evil include the following.

1. Joseph: He had a perfect opportunity to avenge himself. In response to his brothers, he saw their actions as God’s plan to save the world (Genesis 50:20). Here is a good illustration of self-restraint built from a relationship with and knowledge of God.
2. Jesus: He prayed for the salvation of his torturers rather than damning them to go to hell (Luke 23:34). When hurt by someone, it is easy to make all evil prayers toward them. Our love for God and his people calls us to pray for their salvation as Jesus did.
3. Stephen: One might say that Jesus could afford to make such a prayer for their forgiveness because he was God, and it was for such that he came. How about Stephen? He followed Christ’s example and prayed for the forgiveness of his murderers (Acts 7:60). Such prayers show great restraint from retaliation against those who hurt us as God’s people.

There are more examples, but I believe these suffice in demonstrating self-restraint and helping us live accordingly.

Why be Patient?

1. Patience is an excellent sign of leading our emotions rather than allowing them to lead us. The Hebrew word for patience refers to being slow to anger. Anger is an emotion that results mainly when one is ill-treated. It can lead to ungodly responses, which can negatively affect our testimony of Christ (James 1:20). Being patient amounts to responding positively to a negative situation. It indicates good emotional management.
2. The adverse effects of impatience cannot be compared to the eternal benefits of patience, this marvellous fruit of the Holy Spirit. By their unwillingness to suffer, the impatient are not delivered from distress; instead, they bring more pain and misery upon themselves and those around them. The patient prefer to endure wrongs rather than inflicting wrongs on others; thus, they do not commit the sin of impatience. By accepting brief and passing evils, they hold to the view that “the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Just as patience is from Christ, impatience is an evil of Satan. Just as the man in whom Christ lives is patient, the man full of the Devil’s wickedness is impatient.
3. The desire to honour God should be our driving force toward patience. The Bible says vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19). When mistreated, everything within us desires to take vengeance. God calls us to act differently and not be like those who have rejected him. Choosing patience in a very tempting situation is a victory against the Devil. As noted earlier in James 1:20, human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
4. Our love for our neighbour inspires us to be patient. Reacting out of impatience will hurt many. In Leviticus 19:18, God calls us not to exercise revenge or bear a grudge against anyone; instead, we are to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

God calls us to be patient in the above ways. Would you consider yourself patient? If not, you can trust God for help today through prayer and begin to take conscious, practical steps towards growing in patience. May the God who is himself exceedingly patient with you heed your cry.