Thoughtful Thursday: Patience

Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different 

order than the one you have in mind.  –David G. Allen

We’ve all heard the saying “Patience is Virtue”.   But what does it really mean?

Webster’s 1828 defines “patience” - The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.

Suffering…with a calm, unruffled temper? Ouch!  That seems nearly impossible, even for the best of Christians.  But we know of course that all things are possible with God.  And like everything else that God expects of us, patience has a purpose.

Romans 5:3-5 says “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Patience is a trust in God’s way and His timing for things, rather than what we want and when we want it.

Patience is a testimony.  It is part of the fruit of the Spirit.

Patience is an opportunity to let God’s love in us be shown outwardly to others.