Live Juicy – A 10 Week Study of the Fruit of the Spirit – Week Five – Patience

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door. James 5:7-9

Yesterday I had to endure one of my least favorite activities. It involved dealing with a long line of mostly impatient people, waiting in the heat, and praying I had all the documents the state employee would require. I spent most of yesterday morning at the DMV. And this was my second visit there, because guess what? I did not have everything required the first go around. Circumstances tried, stretched, and challenged my patience.

I believe how we show patience with others and in all circumstances, is a big part of our testimony for Jesus. Our words and lifestyle should publicly reflect our experience following Jesus.  

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. 2 Corinthians 1:12

I did not leave a good testimony at the DMV yesterday. No, I was not rude or unkind, but I did not follow the implied instruction on those rubber bracelets from years ago that said, “What would Jesus do?” When the DMV gal told me my situation fell into this different category, which would require me to leave empty-handed a second time, my testimony, along with my face, fell. Instead of smiling, telling her I understood, and thanking her, I questioned her and expressed my frustrations. Just short of stomping my foot and sticking out my lower lip, I even made excuses for why I did not have all the proper documentation in place. Wow, Laurie, I think you can do better next time.

There are two Greek words for patience. The word huponomone means to persevere, bear up under, to keep from crumbling under trial. It requires patience with things and circumstances.

The second Greek word for patience is makrothumia. It means to be long-suffering, having forbearance, and showing self-restraint. Where hupomone is putting up with things or circumstances, makrothumia is putting up with people.

How we show patience in any circumstance and how we treat people who may irritate us, is our testimony. We have a good testimony when our words and actions edify and build up believers around us. Sometimes we need an extra shot of endurance to do this well. We can trust the Holy Spirit to work in us and increase our endurance to be patient with people who continually try or irritate us.

My mom recently demonstrated how endurance from the Holy Spirit allowed her to show mercy, be patient, and build up a friend of hers. Her beautiful friend and neighbor struggles with memory loss. She will often show up at my mom’s door, unsure of who mom is, how long it has been since she has seen her (often, it was just a few hours before, but her memory has already moved on), or asking for my mom’s phone number for the umpteenth time. It is mom’s love for her friend, that gives her endurance, inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, to continue to be patient.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3

This first type of patience is driven by mercy. Because God extends mercy and shows patience with all my shenanigans, and because I desire to be more like Him every day, I must reflect His patience in every circumstance. Even at the DMV.

Patience is inspired by mercy, devoid of condemnation, and evidence of the presence and power of our Holy God. – Beth Moore

God’s Patience with Us

Let’s look at the story of Noah for an example of how God has shown great patience, makrothumia, with us.

We see in Genesis 1:27,31 how God created us in His image, and He was very pleased with His creation.

Then the earth became corrupt and full of violence. Things got so ugly that God regretted He had made human beings.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created.” Genesis 6:5-7a

God did indeed take action, but He continued the human race, with the use of a big boat and one righteous man.

Sunshine and Rainbows

Let’s skip forward to the end of the flood, and look at the covenant God made with Noah and the proof of God’s kept promise.

God promised never to flood the land like this again, as long as the earth remains, and placed a rainbow in the sky as a visible reminder of His promises.

Oh, how patient God has been with us since then! He has not been slow in keeping His promise, He remains patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to repent and receive salvation.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

We are reminded, every time we see a rainbow, of the Lord who keeps His promises and is patient with us.  How can we use our testimony in the area of patience to edify and build up others around us? How have you seen God’s patience with you this week?

Heavenly Father, we pray for the Holy Spirit to aid us in remaining patient with others, to give us the endurance needed for every circumstance and irritating person in our path, and to do so without grumbling. Forgive me for my impatience and know I want to do better. Thank you for your patience with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For a more in-depth study of the fruit of the Spirit, I recommend and am reading myself, Living Beyond Yourself, by Beth Moore

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