When one considers the word ‘patience,’ a prevalent idiom comes to mind: “Patience is a virtue.” While one can agree with this idiom, one can also agree that it is one of the most elusive virtues, especially when you live in an era where everything is instant. With instant connections, instant messages, Google at your fingertips, online banking at your convenience, online shopping with 1-day delivery, it is very hard to develop this Christ-like attribute. Persons have gotten so used to instant gratification that, in general, our tolerance level for even minor inconveniences is at an all-time low. Nobody is willing to wait their turn or to take their time. Parents, bosses, teachers, drivers, workers, babysitters, students, pedestrians, and even babies all want something, and they want it now.
Surprisingly, however, the Bible does have a lot to say about this seemingly elusive virtue. Patience can be considered one of the hallmarks of followers of Christ, and with prayers and encouraging Bible verses, you can develop this trait, even amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our Amen.io App. is a perfect place to find scriptural guidance for this noble virtue.
Here are a few eye-opening scriptures that can help to calm your mind while you practice to wait and exhibit patience with yourself and with others:
Better to be patient than a warrior and better to have self-control than to capture a city. (Proverbs 16:32) This profound scripture ranks patience and self-control as being more powerful than fighting and even capturing a city. It takes supernatural strength to be patient, especially in the face of aggression and oppression, but patience and self-control achieve a lot more than retaliation.
We who are strong need to be patient with the weakness of those who are not strong, and not just think about ourselves. (Romans 15:1) The real mettle of one’s patience is seen when dealing with others who are weaker, slower, less intelligent, and at a disadvantage when compared to you. It takes a real connection to God to not treat such persons harshly or with scant regard.
Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love. (Ephesians 4:2) God wants us to demonstrate humility and patience in our behavior. This is not generally our go-to mode, but it is what God is calling us to do.
Patience leads to abundant understanding, but impatience leads to foolish mistakes. (Proverbs 14:29) Demonstrating patience normally involves waiting, listening, and processing, and as such, one is less likely to make foolish mistakes or misunderstand that which is being communicated. On the other hand, impatient persons tend to jump to conclusions or decisions without much thought, yielding less than ideal results.
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. (Ecclesiastes 7:8) Patience requires humility, submission, and endurance, which will allow you to see the end results of your efforts.
Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy; it does not boast, it is not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4) Love is patient, and if we claim that we love others as ourselves, we must demonstrate patience in our interactions.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) True patience can only be developed when we commit ourselves to God and wait on Him to strengthen us. Of ourselves, we are prone to impatience, but when we wait on God, He will cause us to mount up with wings as eagles.