Patience Please
by Tracy Gordon
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” –Romans 12:12
I have been struggling a bit with patience lately. Well, truth be told, maybe more than a bit. My sweet 16 year-old dog, Tigger struggles with “doggie dementia.” His episodes come on in the middle of the night so together we are up for hours at a time. I am feeling somewhat sleep-deprived, cranky, and I am losing my patience. I am not upset with Tigger as it is not his fault and I love him dearly, but I am struggling with how to handle it all gracefully. Also, as I wrote in my devotion last month, my son has been battling a severe skin condition that has become extremely painful and debilitating. We have been praying faithfully without ceasing, but progress is happening so slowly. I found myself becoming impatient with the Lord, which didn’t feel good as I know how faithful He is.
I began turning to the Word for help and realized that God models patience in the way He deals with us. He could bring the world to an end at any moment, but He waits so that all may come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God’s relentless pursuit of us—sending us opportunity after opportunity to see Him for who He is—is perhaps the clearest picture of patience.
Patience is not a feeling, it’s a fruit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). There is some measure of patience already sown in our redeemed hearts, and with God’s help, it can sprout into something beautiful that helps us live our lives in a way that brings glory to Him and makes others want what we have that they need. The Scriptures remind us to “be patient in tribulation.” This doesn’t mean passively enduring difficulties but rather, maintaining hope and perseverance in the midst of challenges. Patience allows us to navigate life’s twists and turns with grace and resilience.
Jesus, our ultimate example, demonstrated patience in His earthly ministry. He endured hardships, faced opposition, and waited for the appointed time to fulfill His mission. His patience was rooted in unwavering trust in God’s plan. Wow, I want that kind of patience! I began to realize that patience involves more than waiting; it’s a virtue cultivated through endurance, trust, and faith. It teaches us to remain steadfast in times of trial and uncertainty, knowing that God’s timing is perfect, even when we want to say, “PLEASE SPEED IT UP, LORD!”—which I have many times.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he instructs them to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” In watching my son courageously endure the trial he is facing, this verse really spoke to me. In him I see that practicing patience requires discipline and a shift in perspective. It’s about focusing on progress rather than perfection, trusting that each step forward—no matter how small—brings us closer to our goals and our loving God.
Heavenly Father, please cultivate patience in me and while You’re at it, please grow love, joy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Help me to endure trials and struggles with grace; rejoicing in hope and remaining constant in prayer. Strengthen my faith and trust in Your perfect timing. In Your most precious Name, Jesus, I pray, Amen.