…[clothe yourselves with] … patience.
Summary: Patience is an interesting word. It evokes looking at the clock waiting for our favorite TV show to start, but it is so much more than that.
Finally, we come to the end of the train! Like sitting in your car at a railroad crossing waiting for the endless stream of boxcars to file by. You have patiently waited until we finally get to the last rail car; a car called “Patience.”
What do you think of when you see that word? Does the word “suffering” come to mind?
It should.
The definition of “patience” in both Greek and English has a lot to do with suffering. Not just inconvenience, but real physical toothache type suffering. It doesn’t have to be physical suffering, of course. It can be emotional suffering as well. One word used by Strong’s Concordance to describe patience is longsuffering — suffering that never seems to end.
Another word Strong’s uses is one I have never heard before; “longanimity.” The Merriam-Webster On-Line Dictionary describes the word this way: “longanimity stresses the character of one who, like the figure of Job in the Bible, endures prolonged suffering with extreme patience.”
Indeed, Job is a good example of suffering, although listening to his complaints, it doesn’t sound like he was really being patient. Which brings us to the question of God’s patience.
The Bible tells us that our God is patient (2 Peter 3:9, 15). Patience suggests suffering. But how can God suffer?
The answer is found in the story of Jesus’ life on earth (Isaiah 53:3), and the parable Jesus told about the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).
In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father’s youngest child demands his inheritance and leaves home, seemingly for good. Only when he runs out of money and friends does he come to his senses. He repents and returns home “hat in hand” as the expression goes. He expected nothing from his father but hoped he might be allowed to earn his keep as a servant.
Instead of condemnation, the Prodigal finds his father waiting for him with open arms.
Why?
Because the absence of his son caused the father to suffer.
In spite of his pain, the father waited patiently and endured his private suffering. When the son comes home repentant and humbled, the father’s patience is rewarded. Happily, he proclaims, “… this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24).
In the same way, our Father in Heaven aches for the return of his children who have gone astray. When we turn our back on him, he suffers. While he waits for us to repent he is patient.
We need to be patient, too.
Application: Patience is keeping faith with God even when it hurts.
Food for Thought: How is patience related to trusting God?
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When I am in any kind of pain, I want it to go away. Sometimes desperately. I occasionally have bouts of anxiety. I can go a year or two with none, then bam – it kicks in. I then usually have several months of little sleep and feeling like I am crawling out of my skin. I pray and pray for it to go away. When it does, I am sincerely grateful. I am also thankful for having experienced it, because it helps me to minister to others with anxiety with more compassion.
During times of anxiety, I need to trust the Lord more. I can respond with anger at God, but that never helps. Trusting Him through it draws me closer to Him. Many people who have been suffering have told me the same. These events challenge our faith and trust because we can feel like God ket us down. But He doesn’t. He gets us through the trial and sometimes carries us through. But trust us still the better response.
Thank you, Rich.
That is a very personal … and powerful! … example. Thank you for sharing.
Knowing you personally I see the fruit of your suffering played out in your ministry. Your compassion is like a balm for those you serve as pastor.
Thank you!