Why Does God Want us to be Patient?

I often jokingly tell people not to pray for patience because God will take you seriously, and the only way to learn patience, is to BE patient.  Learning to be patient, especially when you are waiting on God, can be a difficult path to walk.

Patience (listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23) will build your character, prevent you making mistakes, help you reach your goals and will be honored by others as you build good relationships.

God Rewards Patience

There is a reward that we receive for ourselves when we have been patient, but God also rewards patience. Hebrews 10:35-36

“Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.”

Receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.  Think on that!  I believe God rewards patience because he knows how hard it is to develop this in our character.  Patience goes against all our natural inclinations, with SELF wanting itself preferred, wanting what it wants and wanting it now.   It is particularly hard to be patient and do the right thing when you are tired and weary.

“And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.” (Gal 6:9 TLB)

Sometimes being patient in difficult circumstances with difficult people can break down the courage of our hearts and we can despair and surrender our faith and trust in God.

James 5:7-8 (Amplified)

So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. 

This verse reminds me that sometimes:

  1. Being patient requires an eternal mindset, one that remembers that history is linear, not circular and that there will be a climax. Jesus will return and the end of all things will come. There will be judgement, and all people will answer. Remembering that God is in control puts perspective on my circumstances.  Some of what we are experiencing, is the path of our time towards eternity and our ultimate destination is with Christ, we cannot lose hope.
  2. Which brings to mind the next thing: patience requires that we strengthen our hearts. It is easy to get discouraged when we are waiting on God, waiting for a promise fulfilled, waiting for God’s intervention in our circumstances, waiting for a breakthrough, a healing etc.

“You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. (James 5:11 AMP)

Patience requires that our hearts be strong in trusting God, much like Job did.  A conviction that God is working behind the scenes, just like there was much more going on behind the scenes in Job’s life, than what Job understood.

  1. The heart requires the same attitude as a farmer, who though he cannot see the harvest now, waits for it to come with an expectant heart. Farmers expect to harvest and so prepare for harvest in order to reap the benefit or reward for their patience.

“I wait [patiently] for the Lord, my soul [expectantly] waits, And in His word do I hope.” (Psalm 130:5 AMP)

  • Version 1.0.0

    What are you waiting for?

  • How are you preparing your heart to be patient?
  • What are you doing while you wait for God to intervene in your circumstances?

Lord thank you that in life circumstances where I am waiting for You to intervene, you grant me patience as a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Help me to patiently endure with a heart that trusts You, like Job did.  Help me to be patient, but not just to endure, but to wait expectantly for a harvest, to receive that which You have promised me.  It is particularly hard to be patient when I am tired, but help me to remember that You are always working behind the scenes and Holy Spirit will provide me with all that I need, to patiently endure.  I know that I will be rewarded with that which I am patiently waiting for.  Thank you Lord.