Forbearance
Patience: More Than Just Waiting
In our fast-paced world, patience often feels like a lost art. We're used to instant gratification, quick responses, and immediate results. But what if patience is more than just waiting? What if it's a powerful spiritual attribute that can transform our lives and relationships?
The Greek word "makrothumia" appears 14 times in the New Testament, often translated as patience, forbearance, or long-suffering. This isn't just about waiting quietly in line or enduring a slow internet connection. It's about something much deeper and more profound.
Makrothumia means "long allowance" or "putting up with annoyances for a long time." But it's not just enduring irritations; it's about long-suffering for the sake of others. This patience is an attribute of God Himself, and understanding this changes everything about how we view and practice patience in our own lives.
Consider how God has demonstrated patience throughout history. He endured Pharaoh's stubbornness, giving him multiple chances to release the Israelites. He waited patiently during Noah's time while the ark was being built. Even now, as we await Christ's return, God is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The Apostle Paul recognized God's "immense patience" in his own life. As a former persecutor of Christians, Paul understood that if God hadn't been patient with him, he would never have had the opportunity to encounter Christ and be transformed.
As followers of Christ, we're called to imitate this divine patience in our own lives. It's not just a virtue to achieve but a gift we've received. Having experienced God's patience ourselves, we're obligated to extend it to others.
But how do we develop this kind of patience? Like fruit, it takes time to grow, but it's also expected. You don't plant seeds without expecting something to sprout eventually. Similarly, patience should be evident in the lives of believers, even if it doesn't appear overnight.
Here's a hard truth: you develop patience by being forced to be patient. It's like working out – muscles need to be exercised to grow stronger. If you're never forced to be patient, you won't become patient; you'll simply remain privileged.
James offers a challenging perspective on this: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (James 1:2-3). Life's trials are like spiritual weight-lifting. They're never easy, always a burden, but when processed with care, they make us spiritually healthier.
This doesn't mean we should seek out hardships, but it does mean we should view the inevitable trials of life differently. Instead of seeing them as intruders, we can recognize them as opportunities for growth. The key is allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us during these challenging times.
What often gets in the way of patience? Look closely at the word "impatience." Remove "I am," and you're left with "patience." This simple wordplay reveals a profound truth: impatience is often rooted in self-centeredness. When we're focused solely on our own needs, wants, and timeline, impatience thrives.
What if, instead of seeing only ourselves, we noticed the needs of others? What if we asked God to reveal what He's doing in each moment and how we can be part of it? What if we slowed down to see the bigger picture and endured difficult moments for God's purposes?
Impatience is intimately connected to selfishness. But what would happen if we asked God daily to give us eyes to see the needs in our community, ears to hear the cries of the lonely, hearts to love the brokenhearted, and minds to remember the outcast?
Consider this personal anecdote: A pastor received a call on his day off from an elderly man. Initially annoyed at the interruption, the pastor's attitude changed dramatically when he truly listened and heard the anguish in the man's voice. The caller was hurting, confused, and didn't know where to turn. This moment illustrated the power of removing "I am" from the equation and allowing God to use us in unexpected ways.
Developing true patience requires us to clothe ourselves with it daily, intentionally putting it on like a garment. It means being willing to endure for the benefit of others, not just waiting for our own convenience.
As we navigate life's challenges, let's remember that patience is more than passive waiting. It's an active, intentional choice to see beyond ourselves, to endure for the sake of others, and to reflect the character of a patient God who has shown immense forbearance towards us.
Next time you feel impatience rising, pause and ask:
- Am I focused on myself, or can I see the needs of others in this moment?
- How might God be working in this situation?
- What might I learn or how might I grow if I choose patience?
By cultivating this kind of patience – this makrothumia – we not only become more like Christ but also create space for God to work in powerful ways through our lives. It's not easy, but it's a journey worth embarking on, one patient moment at a time.
In our fast-paced world, patience often feels like a lost art. We're used to instant gratification, quick responses, and immediate results. But what if patience is more than just waiting? What if it's a powerful spiritual attribute that can transform our lives and relationships?
The Greek word "makrothumia" appears 14 times in the New Testament, often translated as patience, forbearance, or long-suffering. This isn't just about waiting quietly in line or enduring a slow internet connection. It's about something much deeper and more profound.
Makrothumia means "long allowance" or "putting up with annoyances for a long time." But it's not just enduring irritations; it's about long-suffering for the sake of others. This patience is an attribute of God Himself, and understanding this changes everything about how we view and practice patience in our own lives.
Consider how God has demonstrated patience throughout history. He endured Pharaoh's stubbornness, giving him multiple chances to release the Israelites. He waited patiently during Noah's time while the ark was being built. Even now, as we await Christ's return, God is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
The Apostle Paul recognized God's "immense patience" in his own life. As a former persecutor of Christians, Paul understood that if God hadn't been patient with him, he would never have had the opportunity to encounter Christ and be transformed.
As followers of Christ, we're called to imitate this divine patience in our own lives. It's not just a virtue to achieve but a gift we've received. Having experienced God's patience ourselves, we're obligated to extend it to others.
But how do we develop this kind of patience? Like fruit, it takes time to grow, but it's also expected. You don't plant seeds without expecting something to sprout eventually. Similarly, patience should be evident in the lives of believers, even if it doesn't appear overnight.
Here's a hard truth: you develop patience by being forced to be patient. It's like working out – muscles need to be exercised to grow stronger. If you're never forced to be patient, you won't become patient; you'll simply remain privileged.
James offers a challenging perspective on this: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (James 1:2-3). Life's trials are like spiritual weight-lifting. They're never easy, always a burden, but when processed with care, they make us spiritually healthier.
This doesn't mean we should seek out hardships, but it does mean we should view the inevitable trials of life differently. Instead of seeing them as intruders, we can recognize them as opportunities for growth. The key is allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us during these challenging times.
What often gets in the way of patience? Look closely at the word "impatience." Remove "I am," and you're left with "patience." This simple wordplay reveals a profound truth: impatience is often rooted in self-centeredness. When we're focused solely on our own needs, wants, and timeline, impatience thrives.
What if, instead of seeing only ourselves, we noticed the needs of others? What if we asked God to reveal what He's doing in each moment and how we can be part of it? What if we slowed down to see the bigger picture and endured difficult moments for God's purposes?
Impatience is intimately connected to selfishness. But what would happen if we asked God daily to give us eyes to see the needs in our community, ears to hear the cries of the lonely, hearts to love the brokenhearted, and minds to remember the outcast?
Consider this personal anecdote: A pastor received a call on his day off from an elderly man. Initially annoyed at the interruption, the pastor's attitude changed dramatically when he truly listened and heard the anguish in the man's voice. The caller was hurting, confused, and didn't know where to turn. This moment illustrated the power of removing "I am" from the equation and allowing God to use us in unexpected ways.
Developing true patience requires us to clothe ourselves with it daily, intentionally putting it on like a garment. It means being willing to endure for the benefit of others, not just waiting for our own convenience.
As we navigate life's challenges, let's remember that patience is more than passive waiting. It's an active, intentional choice to see beyond ourselves, to endure for the sake of others, and to reflect the character of a patient God who has shown immense forbearance towards us.
Next time you feel impatience rising, pause and ask:
- Am I focused on myself, or can I see the needs of others in this moment?
- How might God be working in this situation?
- What might I learn or how might I grow if I choose patience?
By cultivating this kind of patience – this makrothumia – we not only become more like Christ but also create space for God to work in powerful ways through our lives. It's not easy, but it's a journey worth embarking on, one patient moment at a time.
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