Sowing the Seeds of Patience

      The first thing we will realize as we strive to glorify God through patience is that it is not easy.  After all, patience is an issue of being continually put to the test.  Patience is not a one time act, but a continual devotion to do what is right with joy no matter what suffering we endure.

      That can be overwhelming.  However, as with all the God-glorifying fruit of the Spirit, we do not need to be overwhelmed.  Instead, we need to focus ourselves on sowing the seeds that will bear patience.

      I Thessalonians 1:3 claimed that patience is a direct result of hope.  Biblically, hope is the earnest expectation of the fulfillment of God’s promises.  According to Romans 8:24, hope has to do with expecting what is unseen.  This inextricably links hope with faith (Hebrews 11:1).

      Guess where this leads us again.  You got it – Bible study.  If we want to increase our patience, we must sow Bible study.  But not just any Bible study.  Hebrews 12:1 said we can look to the patient faithful recorded in scripture and gain hope from their stories.  Seeing them patiently endure hardships but then receive the promises of God can help us patiently endure the race that is set before us.  We ought to read the stories of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Job and Jesus.  Their examples will help us increase our patience.

      Paul’s advice for peace in Philippians 4:8 is also helpful for patience.  He said to meditate on good things.  We must sow positive thoughts.  No matter what we are facing, we need to take time every day to think about all the good things that God has done for us.  If we think about all our blessings, enduring the hardships will be easier.  Take some time today to write down your blessings on an index card.  Keep it in your wallet or purse.  When you start feeling overwhelmed with how bad things are, pull it out and look at it.

      If we are going to have patience on earth, then we need to sow thoughts of heaven.  When Peter wanted to convince the Christians of Asia to be patient, he reminded them that their goal was heaven (I Peter 1:3-9).  We did not become Christians to have easy lives, but to go to heaven.  Paul was able to patiently endure because he forgot what was behind and focused on the goal (Philippians 3:12-14).  Moses was able to suffer affliction because he looked to the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).  We will endure patiently when we think of heaven.  No matter what we are facing now, heaven is worth it.  We must constantly remind ourselves “this too shall pass,” but heaven will last forever.

      We ought not be overwhelmed.  Instead, we must simply sow the seeds that will bear patience.  How many can we sow this week?

Edwin L. Crozier