Love is Patient

The Bible tells us that love is patient.  How many of us would profess to be patient? 

Do we listen attentively to what another is saying? Do we give up on a program or a project because it requires too much time or is not going as we anticipated? When things do not go our way, are we willing to pause and seek God on how we should proceed?  Many of us are aware of the numerous times we have made life altering blunders because of our impatience.

The Bible reminds us: 

It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper. Proverbs 14:29

Always be humble and gentle.  Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Ephesians 4:2 

What causes us to be impatient and lose our temper? Perhaps it stems from a general disrespect of people. Perhaps we have been conditioned by the environment we grew up in and never learned to wait for things.  Perhaps our disappointment with events we expected to happen but never did, affected our trust in others and gave us a sarcastic attitude. 

But the real question is less about how we got to where we are in our impatience and more about whether or not we want stay the way we are.  Do we dare to ask God to teach us how to love others and how to be patient with them?

I am the Lord God.  I am merciful and very patient with my people.  I show great love, and I can be trusted.  Exodus 34:6b

God loves us with unfailing love and is faithful to do what He says.  He calls us to live as patient people and promises that whatever we are lacking in doing that, He is ready to supply. 

My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn’t living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Heavenly Father, It’s pretty clear we desperately need You to fill us up with Your love and compassion if we are ever going to improve at being patient people.  But that is our big ask of You today.  Please give us that great love to show to us when you are patient with us so we can love and be patient with others in our own turn.  Amen

Hmmmm …. Patience …. We all want it but never enjoy being the ones to have to dish it out for others.  Let’s do our best, God being our helper, to live with patience today.