To many, patience is merely a virtuous platitude because they don’t grasp its importance to faithfulness and obtaining promises. They fail to understand the value of longsuffering, and as a result, fail to see things through to the end. Patience is a sign of faith as well as love; for, love is patient and faith works by love (see 1 Corinthians 13:4; Galatians 5:6). If you love someone, you will be patient with him or her. If you love God, you will wait on Him. If you trust Him, you will endure until the end. Indeed, apart from patience there is no maturity. Being immature means one is incomplete. Salvation itself requires longsuffering, for it is written, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12 [NASB]). Please note the connection between perseverance and love. Love endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Perhaps, when someone prays for patience, he is missing the point. It would be better to ask for perfect love, because love would be the reason to treat people with kindness when they’re being difficult, and to see things to their conclusion.
Patience is not motivation; love is!
The more in touch with love you are, the more patience will be available to you. The more you love God, the more submitted to (the) Holy Spirit you will find yourself. In submission, you’ll find His patience flowing though you. (The) Holy Spirit empowers you by grace to be patient with people and longsuffering during difficult seasons or circumstances. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (NASB).
If you count yourself as faithful to God, you will endure until the end. You will be patient while waiting for the promises. Your faithfulness to Him will cause you to remain obedient, regardless of how long obedience is required. Ultimately, your love for God will cause you to desire to be faithful to Him and be patient. That patience will allow you to see Him face to face. It will allow you to see the Father’s promise come to pass. You will wait on Jesus, and like Him, you will say, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Love will cause you to see beyond the moment, and patience will hold you until you get to the other side. You will be able to endure the things that accompany unregenerate people for their sake. God is and was patient with you because of His great love.
Perhaps, a sign of maturity is the amount of patience one possesses. If you want to know how mature you are, ask the one in the mirror how patient he or she sees you. See if he or she will look you the eye when he or she answers. Patience is a greater indicator of maturity than your knowledge of Scripture. Without it, you would have a difficult time fulfilling what you know is written in its pages.
