Patience is an important virtue emphasized in the Bible, especially in the book of James. James 1:4 says “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” This verse teaches us that by letting patience have its “perfect work”, it can help make us mature and complete Christians. So how can we put this into practice in our lives?
Understanding True Patience
First, it’s important to understand what biblical patience really means. Patience isn’t just gritting our teeth and forcing ourselves to wait. Rather, it’s an active endurance and perseverance in the midst of trials and difficulties. The Greek word translated “patience” in James 1:4 contains the idea of cheerful endurance and steadfastness. It’s not passive waiting, but actively choosing to trust God and stay steadfast even when we want to give up.
True biblical patience also involves a forward-looking perspective. Romans 8:25 says “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Patience means looking ahead with hope and confidence in God’s promises, rather than simply being stuck in the present circumstances. It’s rooted in our faith that God is in control and will work all things for our good in His perfect timing (Romans 8:28).
Letting Patience Have Its “Perfect Work”
So how do we let patience have its “perfect work” as James 1:4 instructs us? Here are some key ways:
- Pray for patience and endurance – We can ask God to give us strength to patiently endure trials and develop maturity (Colossians 1:11). Ask Him for a long-term perspective.
- Trust in God’s sovereignty – Remembering that God is in control and has a purpose for every trial helps us to be patient and stay steadfast (Romans 8:28).
- Look to biblical examples – Hebrews 12 points us to heroes of faith who endured patiently. Jesus Himself is the supreme model of endurance through suffering for a greater purpose.
- Remind ourselves of God’s promises – Scriptures like Romans 5:3-4, James 1:12 and Revelation 2:7 assure us that patience leads to blessings, character growth and future reward.
- Persevere in doing good – Patience is active. By continuing to do good and serve others, we exercise patience through difficult circumstances (Galatians 6:9).
- Praise and thank God – Even when we don’t feel patient, praising God for His sovereignty, goodness and faithfulness can help cultivate patience within us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- Confess impatience as sin – Impatience reveals a lack of trust in God. Confess it and repent, asking God to replace impatience with steadfast endurance.
- Be patient with others – Extending patience toward others helps grow patience in our own lives. Their imperfections are opportunities to model longsuffering.
- Cultivate eternal perspective – Keeping our eyes fixed on eternal reward helps us to patiently endure temporary earthly troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
The Fruit of Patience
Why does patience and endurance matter so much? James says when we let patience have its “perfect work”, it will make us “perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). Patience produces incredible fruit in our lives:
- Maturity – Patience develops godly character, strength of spirit, and steadfast faith that endures (James 1:3-4).
- Wisdom – Only through patience can we gain a wise, eternal perspective toward problems and grow in discernment (Hebrews 5:14).
- Confidence in God’s presence – As we learn to wait on God patiently, we gain new understanding of His unfailing presence, provision and purpose for us in difficulties.
- Hope – Patience ushers in a hope and joy that transcends circumstances, knowing God’s purposes cannot be thwarted (Romans 5:3-5).
- Reward – Scripture promises eternal blessings and reward to those who patiently endure trials (James 1:12, Revelation 2:7).
Therefore, though patience is difficult, the harvest it produces in our lives is invaluable. As we choose by faith to let “steadfastness have its full effect”, we will experience the profound maturing work patience brings.
Practical Ways to Grow in Patience
Becoming more patient usually feels like a slow, difficult process. But with intentionality and God’s help, we can grow steadfast step by step. Here are some practical strategies:
- Start small – Being patient in short inconveniences prepares us to endure greater trials. For example, patiently waiting in lines can train patience.
- Pray daily for patience – Ask God to increase your endurance and fill you with supernatural patience. Depend on His strength, not your own willpower.
- Meditate on scriptures about patience – Verses like Hebrews 6:12, Romans 8:25, and James 5:7-8 remind us of patience’s importance and bless those who endure.
- Exercise patience toward others – Be quick to forgive, slow to anger and judgment toward people. This develops patience in relationships.
- Thank God in the trials – Expressing gratitude even in difficulties keeps our focus on God’s faithfulness rather than the problems themselves.
- Celebrate progress – Note when you choose patience over impatience. Thank God for each small act of endurance. Celebrate His work in you.
- Examine your thought patterns – Impatience often starts in the mind. Counter impatient thoughts with God’s truth and choose to dwell on His faithful character.
- Limit frustrations and delays – Manage your time and activities wisely to minimize unnecessary frustrations that deplete your patience reserves.
- Trust God’s timing – Remind yourself that God’s perfect timing and plan is worth waiting for. He knows what we need and when we need it.
As we intentionally pursue patience, we’ll find ourselves increasingly able to endure storms, wait on God’s provision, love difficult people, and run our race with perseverance. Our faith muscles will grow as we lean wholly on our patient, mighty God.
Patience in Prayer
One important area we all need more patience is in prayer. How can we develop persevering patience as we bring our requests to God?
- Persist patiently in prayer – Keep praying even when answers seem delayed. Waiting on God with hope teaches us to depend fully on Him (Luke 18:1-8).
- Remember previous answered prayers – God has been faithful before, which gives confidence He will answer in His perfect timing again.
- Trust God’s wisdom – He knows exactly what we need and when it’s best to answer. His timing and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
- Look for God’s work while waiting – Often God uses waiting times to teach us valuable lessons as we rely completely on Him.
- Avoid giving God deadlines – Patience surrenders our human timelines and allows God to work on His perfect, eternal schedule.
- Release expectations about how/when God will answer – He can do immeasurably more than we can imagine! Be open and patient for His unexpected work.
- Thank God now for future answers – We can have hopeful patience because we know God hears and answers prayer in His unmatched wisdom and love.
Prayer is all about patiently relying on and trusting in God. As we bring our requests persistently yet submissively before Him, we learn priceless lessons about waiting on and depending fully on our faithful, loving Father.
Being Patient in Suffering
One of the most difficult times to exercise patience is in prolonged suffering. Trials that continue for years stretch our perseverance to the limit. How can we patiently endure through ongoing afflictions?
- Remember God’s past faithfulness – If God has carried us through before, He will be faithful again today in the struggles we face.
- Shift focus from “when” to “how” – Rather than fixating on the duration, look for how God wants us to respond and what He’s teaching us now.
- Connect with others who understand – Fellow suffers who’ve walked this road can provide much-needed empathy, perspective and hope.
- Take it one day at a time – For long-haul challenges, patience must be renewed daily by drawing close to Jesus in each moment.
- Celebrate small milestones – Note accomplishments and progress. Completing treatment phases, getting out of bed each day, and other wins keep hope alive.
- Talk to God honestly – Pour out your heart’s frustrations and pains to your compassionate Father. He understands and cares.
- Cling to God’s promises – Scriptures reassure us that our suffering is temporary and God will redeem it for good purposes (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
- Focus on eternity – This life is short compared to eternity. Our trials now are producing glory, reward, and refinement for eternity.
Walking through years of affliction requires extraordinary patience that only the Holy Spirit can provide. By God’s grace, the testing of our faith produces steadfastness and Christlike maturity in us (James 1:2-4). Our pain is never wasted.
Patience While Waiting on God
In seasons when we are waiting on God to act, provide, heal, or change circumstances, patience is difficult but so needed. Here are some biblical strategies to wait and trust patiently on God’s perfect plan and timing:
- Surrender control – Release all demands on how and when God should work. Yield your timeline to Him (Psalm 31:15).
- Seek God, not just His solutions – Desire Him above His answers to prayer. He may want to teach you something new in this waiting time.
- Renew hope through praise – Remembering God’s past faithfulness fuels courage to keep trusting Him for today’s unknowns (Psalm 13:5-6).
- Give thanks to cultivate gratitude – Thanking God for His sovereignty, goodness, and blessings keeps our focus on Him rather than the wait.
- Entrust your cares to God – Cast your worries onto Jesus, believing He genuinely cares for you and your needs (1 Peter 5:7).
- Consider biblical examples – Recall saints like Abraham who patiently endured without knowing God’s plan and timing ahead of time.
- Ask God for fresh patience daily – His mercies are new each morning! Rely on the Holy Spirit to sustain you step-by-step.
As we learn to wait, trust, pray, and obey with patience, we’ll find ourselves drawing closer to our faithful God. His timing and ways are perfect even when we don’t understand them initially. Our patient hope will be richly rewarded!