Ask a Pastor Column

Q: Where in the Bible does it talk about how to be more patient?

A:  Let me approach the topic of patience by beginning with it’s opposites: impatience and frustration. We often approach life with an expectation of how things ought to be. When these expectations are not met, we can become frustrated and impatient. Instead of adjusting our expectations to better fit with reality, we try harder to make reality line up with our expectations. And we all know how well that goes! This is the root cause of impatience.

The good news is that there are a few basic Bible truths that can help us correct wrong perspectives, avoid frustration, and live with greater patience. The first truth is that we live in a fallen world; therefore, nothing is going to go perfectly (Ecclesiastes 1:13-15). While we cannot foresee every problem, it really shouldn’t surprise us that a broken world doesn’t always function like it should. If we accept this reality and are willing to roll with setbacks and hardships, it can help us keep our blood pressure in check. A wise person expects the unexpected and writes all their plans in pencil.

A second helpful truth is that believers in Christ are going to live forever. God calls us as His children to remember that the hardships of this world are temporary (II Corinthians 4:16-17; I John 2:15-17). While frustration focuses us on the present; we must learn to counter that pattern by remaining mindful of eternity. So, if you begin to feel frustrated, stop and ask yourself, “will this matter in 20 years?”

Finally, we must understand that our life and all our earthly possessions are on loan from God, and we must give them back one day (Job 1:21). Sometimes God takes away things that we couldn’t keep anyway so that He can give us godly character which we will keep forever (Romans 5:3-4). Remembering this helps us appreciate situations that test our patience and helps us wait upon God to complete His perfect work (James 1:2-4).

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