Patience

When everything is going our way, patience is easy to demonstrate. The true test of patience comes when our rights are violated—when another car cuts us off in traffic; when we are treated unfairly; when our coworker derides our faith, and so on.

According to the Bible patience is simply trusting and waiting without worrying or complaining. Jesus set the standard of motivated love, compassion and patience. Patience perfects the Christian character and as a Christian, we should look into our hearts and attitudes. For example, I recently went to the grocery store to buy some milk and the lines were excessively long. As I began to sigh, I took in a deep breath then I heard people in line complaining. One woman said “why aren’t these lines moving faster!” Then another man stated, “Why don’t they hire more people?”

Patience is an essential aspect toward maturity and growth as a Christian, yet it is not a fun thing to obtain. We, as fallen humanity, do not like to wait, especially in our fast paced and fast food society. We may cry out to God and ask that He give us Patience, NOW! Yet, if He did, would we have it?

Patience will allow us to forgive (Rom. 5:8), as Christ forgave us and has patience with us. Patience will allow us to endure and go on, even when we do not feel like it. It will see the hope that is ahead. Patience will allow us to cling to Christ no matter what happens. When we are impatient, we will miss a lot in life, especially in our relationships, because we will give up too easily

So patience is a virtue, a difficult but important one for the Christian. Every day our patience is tested .Let us focus ever more clearly on the example of Christ in order to imitate him in all things, large and small. Patience is a major characteristic of our God, and that should fill us with gratitude.

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