“And we urge you…admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil…” 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

“God is the God of history. He does not stand apart as some mighty spectator but is in the process and the facts, ever shaping them (in ways that we can understand and in ways beyond our powers to grasp) to ends that fulfill a great and good destiny for men. This is no idle or pious wish. Examine the past and behold the unfolding of living process.” (Howard Thurman, Deep Is The Hunger, p. 41)

Patience is one of the most important teachings in the New and Old Testament. It is one of Paul’s “Fruits of the Spirit”. It seems that humans have been impatient, hard-headed, and restless since creation (and if you do not believe me just read a little from the book of Exodus). Adam and Eve were impatient — Jonah was impatient — the Israelites were impatient. Humans are, by nature, restless and impatient creatures.

Many know the saying “Patience is a virtue” — I think that G-d is the most patient of all — for G-d will never become impatient with you or me. As Howard Thurman says, not only is our G-d the G-d of history, but G-d is also beyond our powers to understand. As such, G-d is always with us — even when we can not feel that presence.

 A wise man once told me that the definition of optimism is a man who puts his coat on when his wife says she is ready to leave. The patient follower of G-d is a person who understands that G-d is in all things, but in the stillness or the absence of understanding, we still trust that our faith and trust is part of G-d’s plan that is a living process.

Like any of the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control) we look to the Holy Spirit who provides us the strength to wait, patiently or not, for the perfecting of our faith.

Pastor Dave