Patience is a virtue that is highly emphasized in the Bible. God’s Word provides many examples and teachings about the importance of patience, especially in times of suffering, affliction, and waiting upon the Lord. Here is an overview of some of the key things the Bible says about patience:
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 lists patience as one of the fruits of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” As a fruit of the Spirit, patience is a virtue that God develops in us through His Spirit working within. It is not something we can manufacture or conjure up on our own.
Patience comes through endurance and testing
The Bible connects patience with endurance through times of suffering and testing. Romans 5:3-4 says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” James 1:2-4 echoes this: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Difficult times are opportune times for the development of patience.
Patience is needed in waiting upon the Lord
Several verses speak of the patience required as we wait upon God and His timing. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 37:7 adds, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” Patience is a key element of faithfully waiting on God.
Patience is essential for evangelism and interactions with others
Patience enables us to lovingly interact with and witness to others. Ephesians 4:2 instructs, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” Patience allows us to admonish and encourage in a gentle way.
Examples of patience in the Bible
In addition to teachings about patience, the Bible provides us with many examples of godly men and women demonstrating patience in a variety of circumstances:
Noah’s patience in building the ark
It took Noah many decades to build the massive ark God commanded him to construct (Genesis 5-9). Noah persevered in this monumental task, patiently enduring the scorn of others as he obeyed God’s call.
Abraham’s patience in waiting for God’s promise
God promised Abraham he would become a great nation, with offspring as numerous as the stars (Genesis 12, 15). Yet Abraham and his wife Sarah waited decades before seeing this promise fulfilled and giving birth to their son Isaac in their old age. They patiently trusted God.
Job’s patience in suffering
After losing his children, possessions, and health, Job endured tremendous grief and physical affliction (Job 1-2). Despite intense hardship and pressure from his friends to curse God, Job responded: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21) and “shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). Job demonstrated remarkable patience in the face of great suffering.
David’s patience in waiting to become king
Though anointed as the next king of Israel as a boy, David would not actually become king until many years later (1 Samuel 16). He had to patiently endure adversity and affliction from Saul for over a decade before ascending to the throne, all the while refusing to seize the kingship for himself prematurely.
Jesus’ patience in enduring suffering
Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, was the epitome of patience. He willingly endured scorn, affliction, and excruciating pain on the cross. While being crucified, He prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus patiently obeyed His Father’s will all the way through death on the cross. The author of Hebrews reminds us to look to Him as an example of endurance (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Patience is rewarded by God
The Bible assures that God sees and rewards those who patiently endure adversity. James 5:7-8,10-11 exhorts:
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord… You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand… As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
Revelation 14:12 also promises that those who patiently endure and remain faithful to Jesus through suffering will receive an eternal blessing.
Patience should characterize Christian leaders
Because patience is so vital for faith and endurance, Scripture emphasizes it is a key qualification for servants and leaders within the church. As pastor-elder qualifications, 1 Timothy 3:2-3 notes an overseer must be “temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” Similarly, Titus 1:7-8 calls for a “blameless” elder who is “not arrogant or quick-tempered… but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” These characteristics require patience.
Pray for patience and wait on the Lord
Though patience is a fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives, we also have a responsibility to cultivate this virtue. Colossians 1:9-11 includes patience in Paul’s prayer for the Colossians to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work.” But we must avoid trying to manufacture patience solely by our own efforts. Instead, we are to wait upon the Lord, seek Him in prayer, and allow Him to develop patience within us according to His good purposes.
Patience is essential, but also difficult in a fast-paced world
Our modern society tends to value speed, instant gratification, and doing everything in the most efficient manner. However, patience does not always fit nicely into these ideals. Patience takes time, endurance, waiting, and persevering when it is difficult. Living a more patient lifestyle will often mean slowing down and reprioritizing certain things in order to value relationships and people above efficiency and speed. But though patience is countercultural, it remains a vital biblical virtue for faithful Christian living.
Biblical teachings on patience
In addition to the passages already quoted, here is a sampling of other notable Bible verses about patience:
– “Love is patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4)
– “Be patient toward all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14)
– “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you” (2 Peter 3:9)
– “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8)
– “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4)
– “But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (1 Peter 2:20)
– “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11)
Patience is needed even when facing persecution
Jesus taught that following Him would bring persecution and affliction from the world. In the face of persecution, patience enables us to faithfully endure. Romans 12:12 says to “be patient in tribulation.” 2 Thessalonians 1:4 tells of those who are “persecuted for the kingdom of God” and commends them for being “patient in the midst of the afflictions you are suffering.” Patience helps us persevere through persecution for the sake of Christ.
Patience must accompany planting spiritual seeds
Ecclesiastes 11:1 and 11:6 use the metaphor of planting seeds to represent spreading the spiritual truths of God’s Word: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days…Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed.” Just as a farmer waits patiently for seeds to sprout and grow, we must patiently plant gospel seeds among others and wait for God to bring the growth.
Patience grows through experiencing God’s patience with us
Knowing how patient God is with us in all our failures and weaknesses motivates us to extend the same longsuffering patience toward others. As Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” God could judge us instantly in our sins, but instead He pours out astounding patience and mercy. As we grow in appreciation of God’s patience, it transforms us into more patient people.
Jesus’ Second Coming requires patience and watchfulness
In several parables, Jesus emphasized the patience, watchfulness, and readiness needed as we await His promised return (Matthew 24:45-51, Matthew 25:1-13, Luke 12:35-40). Though it has been thousands of years since His first coming, Christ taught we must patiently keep watch and remain faithful until His return, which will happen at an unknown future time. The good servant will still be faithfully working when the master suddenly returns.
Patience grows through remembering what Jesus endured for us
Keep in mind all that Christ went through during His earthly ministry. Hebrews 12:3 reminds us to consider Jesus, who “endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Remembering Christ’s patient endurance empowers us to likewise endure hardship and “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). We draw strength from Jesus’ exemplary patience.
Concluding reflections
In summary, biblical patience is essential for faithful Christian living and is developed in us by God’s Spirit working within. Patience enables us to endure affliction, continue doing good works, lovingly interact with others, and wait upon the Lord’s perfect timing. Though challenging in our fast-paced world, we must pursue patience as an antidote to anger, anxiety, and impulsiveness. By God’s grace, patience will increasingly characterize our lives until we see the Lord face to face.