Patience

Patience is forbearance, i.e. the moral capacity to endure and forbear delay or imperfection. Other words that explain its meaning are longanimity, fortitude, endurance, tolerance, and longsuffering. Patience is, thus, a word related to time. It is the measure of our durability in faith.

1. Patience is giving allowance to more time (Neh.9:30; Matt.18:26,29). Allowing more time is a process of suffering (loss, pain); therefore, patience is also longsuffering.
2. Patience is the ability to hold on, i.e. to possess one's self, to endure, to allow things to grow (Luke 21:19; 8:15)
3. Patience is connected with a future hope. Unless one has hope, one cannot allow patience (Rom.15:4; 1Thess.1:3)
4. Patience is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22). Only the Spirit who sees everything from the beginning to the end and stands above time can guide our hearts into all patience.

Sources of Patience
1. God (Rom.15:5; 2Thess.3:5)
2. Scriptures (Rom. 15:4)
3. Being strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power (Col.1:11)
4. Pursuit of patience (1Tim.6:11)
5. Testing of faith (James 1:5)
6. The Spirit (Patience is the fruit of the Spirit) (Gal.5:22)
7. Inspiration from the lives of the prophets (James 5:10)

Rewards of Patience
1. Salvation (Matt.10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13)
2. Inheriting God's promises (Heb.6:12)
3. Perfection (James 1:4)