Patience. | A Weekly Word 2022

Love is patient. We’re reminded of this as we cross the threshold into marriage. We commit ourselves to showing up as conscious and gentle parents for our children. And we patiently extend grace to friends traversing through life’s challenges. We are patient with those on our jobs, and in our care, and across our communities – understanding that patience is a key tenant of showing the love of God to others. 

In the same way, exercising patience with ourselves is an act of self-love. Patience for our healing journey, no matter how many times we find ourselves repeating a lesson. Patience with our progress, no matter how incremental. Patience in the wait, no matter how long.

Taken from the Apostle Paul’s letters to the early Christians at Corinth, the popular passage in chapter 13 of the first book begins with those three familiar words, “Love is patient.”  While an earlier version, and presumably a closer translation of the original text, says it differently. It reads, “love is long suffering.” 

Patience, as defined, is the capacity to accept long suffering without getting upset. And according to the scriptures, it’s not merely that but also the ability to be grateful and even joyful for that suffering.

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” - Romans 5:3-4

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12

Every time, then, that we practice patience in our personal journey we are not just showing ourselves the love of God, but we are producing in ourselves an enduring hope that can only come from a faithfulness in God.

Passage

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:25

Prayer

God, thank you for teaching through your Word that love is patient. Thank you for patience that produces hope. Thank you, Lord, for gratitude and joy even in our suffering. Help me to practice enduring patience in this challenging season. Help me to hope for what I can not yet see. Help me to wait patiently. Allow me to show myself the same loving patience that I work to extend to those around me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Practice

This week, I will focus on practicing patience. I will commit to finding gratitude in my long suffering.