Instead he is patient with you…
Summary: Understanding some concepts is sometimes made easier by looking at the absence of the concept. This technique helps us understand why God is patient.
What does the patience of God look like? Maybe it would be helpful to turn the question around and ask, “What would impatience from God look like?”
I know what impatience is. In my younger days, I struggled with impatience constantly. Impatience, coupled with frustration and anger, is a volatile combination. My reach limited my anger. God’s anger is unlimited.
Imagine if God had a bad day. Suppose he looks down from heaven and sees most of the population either ignoring him or mocking him. Then he sees something that ticks him off. Pow! Anger overcomes his better judgment and, **Poof** the earth is gone. Maybe God’s anger is not quite enough to cause the destruction of the world. Maybe it is only enough to release a plague on the world that kills every human being.
Another option would be simply starting over. Imagine God did not like the way this world had turned out, so he simply erases it and starts over. Then when that one does not work out, he does the same thing. Eventually, the Impatient God would get bored with trying and go off and do something else. You and I would never live because an impatient god would never have given us the chance to be born.
Impatience on God’s part would be a terrible thing for us.
So what does a patient God look like? From our human perspective, it looks like he is ignoring a lot of bad things. The world is full of bad people and people who hurt other people. People we think of as “good” or “innocent” are constantly being hurt. Just look at what we do to the millions of babies who are aborted each year. Is that good or fair to them?
A patient God allows the righteous and the unrighteous to continue. The final judgment day seems far off, and many do not believe it will ever come. I am reminded of the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13. When asked why God does not just eradicate the evil people and leave the good ones, he says:
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First, collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” (Matthew 13: 29-30)
The patience of God is part of a larger plan. Like a farmer raising a crop, God understands he has to wait to get what he wants. He wants you and me to be born again (John 3: 5-7). He wants us to grow in our understanding of him and our relationship with him (Romans 8: 5). At the proper time, he will separate the wheat from the chaff (Matthew 3: 12).
Another analogy is the patience of a human father for his child. A good father understands children make mistakes. He restrains his anger out of love for the child. He teaches the child and as the child grows, he expects more, but his expectations are always tempered by his understanding that we cannot know more than our years allow.
Because God is the God of all people, not just me and you, it seems like he is doing nothing when, in fact, he is managing billions of lives all at once. Like threads in a tapestry, we are woven together in a beautiful portrait of God’s love. It is a love that is sometimes spelled P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E.
Application: Appreciate God’s patience by considering what life would be like if God were not patient.
Food for Thought: What would life on earth be like if all people were capable of infinite patience?
It would certainly be better 😊. It will happen in Heaven. We have a sin nature that will not allow us all to have infinite patience on this earth. But for those in Christ, the dream will become a reality for an eternity. That is why Heaven is our home and this earth is not. Yet, if we will have infinite patience for eternity, we can certainly strive to grow in this fruit of the Spirit on this earth with the Holy Spirit’s help.
Rich,
You remind me of the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer:
“your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6: 10)
Oh, yes. I’d say heavenly! I need more patience so often. And all people being patient! I wish I could picture it. So true Jeff, that is hard to know what a truly patient God…. Well, a truly patient anyone looks like, let alone a world full. It would look like a little bit of heaven.
– Yes, it would be like heaven, which is what I believe God had originally intended for his creation.
I’m not sure, if infinite patience would work without Gods knowledge of everything else., or without being able to live for eternity.
infinite patience on earth sounds like a lot of people waiting and wasting their lives one something that they are waiting on.
infinite patience might be use by people the wrong way like this world already uses everything wrong. By not glorifying God with all your heart.
infinite patience might be waiting for people to use a single letter for their name and waiting to comment so that you can spell patience……… R.A.T. I.e.n……..nevermind.
LOL! 🙂
I wondered where this was going.
(I was being patient!)
It’s been said that patience is a virtue,..and I have come to understand virtue as being a strength,..and in our weakness we find strength,..
I am sure it would be a lot more calming if everyone on earth were more patient,..I thought I was being patient waiting for it to snow last night,..but I didn’t make it and went to bed,..it started snowing shortly after,.. I am not very strong in my patience,..but I did get the rest this body needs,..
It certainly is a nice thought for all of us to be more patient,..there would be no more road rage,..no more red light runners or last minute Larry’s cutting me off at the last minute to take an exit off the freeway,..my work order list would be longer than it is now because all the customers would have an infinite amount of patience to wait for their project to get started and or completed.
It reminds me of a song from Guns and Roses – Patience –
All we need is just a little patience
Keep smiling!
Thank you, John!
You are right — Just the improvement in traffic would be amazing! 🙂
12-26-2021, 2 Peter 3:9 b, What would life on earth be like if all people were capable of infinite patience?
We can demonstrate patience in our lives, but like all gifts from God, the individual must make a personal choice to accept. Universal, infinite patience will never be seen in this world.
To me, the word patience, means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to its fullest, in faith that something hidden will be made known to us in Gods timing. We live each moment knowing we are eternal beings, fully trusting God irregardless of the circumstances of the moment.
Patience is given by the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love , joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Patience is given to us for ministry:
1 Timothy 1:16, Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost of sinners, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example or pattern for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Luke 8:15, As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
In verse 33 of Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus gives us our first priority, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
God gives us an entire day, every day to enjoy as we practice being patient. Our goal is to make the most of every opportunity and demonstrate our faith, our trust in Him in ALL circumstances. Know God is Sovereign and enjoy today knowing tomorrow will bring what He wills. We will live it when it comes.
I enjoy your definition of patience!
Ron,
I love the reminder to ‘grow where we are planted.’ Trusting that God has a plan when nothing seems to make sense requires patience. Yet, he can see so much more than we can. He knows what the outcome will be. He sees the dangers that we cannot know and steers us around them. All of this requires patience, and patience, as you hint at, is an expression of faith.
Thank you!
Hi Jeff, Thank You!
All saints in the Bible seem to have two things in common. They knew they were imperfect and by faith they put their trust in our unseen God.
Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Exodus 33:14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
The greater their trust, the greater their peace.