“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” – James 1:2-4, NKJV

Until a few years ago, I used to think that patience was simply all about the ability to wait.  Well, that’s only a small part of it.

From a biblical perspective, patience is the quality in a person that enables him/her not to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.

In that context, the opposite of patience is despondency.

The dictionary defines ‘patience’ as the capacity to calmly endure pain or trying situations; to accept or tolerate problems.

It is also the ability to bear with provocation, annoying situations or other people’s annoying behaviour without complaining or losing your temper.

The Greek term for ‘patience’ denotes the quality of being ‘long-tempered.’

If you’ve ever had an experienced with a short-tempered person then you understand what I am talking about.

Before getting married, a lot of people think they are patient. I think the first and most important lesson in marriage is patience.

I usually tell people that when God really wants to cultivate the character of patience in a person, He will give him/her one of or two things or both: a spouse and a baby (and possibly a really obnoxious boss as a bonus).

Why do you think would the Bible admonish wives to “submit” and husbands to “love their wives”?

It really does take lots of patience to do either.

Anyway, the Greek uses two words to differentiate between patience with regard to adverse situations and patience with regard to annoying or difficult people.

Blessed is the person who has acquired the character of patience; let him/her ask for no other blessing.

And one doesn’t need to live many years to learn that our world is a difficult place even for an angel to be patient, and I am not talking just about politicians here!

How things turn out, annoying situations and people can make you snap and go nuts in an instant.

In our meditation today, the apostle Peter – who had his fair share of annoying people and situations – admonishes his troubled audience to rejoice because of their suffering because it’s producing in them the character of patience, which he says they should allow to “have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

That implies that if one has developed the character of patience, one is a complete person who doesn’t lack anything!

Our Lord Jesus was our perfect example of patience in both contexts – for 30 years He patiently waited for His ministry to start and was extremely ‘long-tempered’ while dealing with His family members, His disciples and His adversaries.

To this day, Christ is extremely patient with us, and desires that we too should maintain an attitude of patience while suffering injustices (James 5:7).

So, more than anything else, let’s ask to develop the virtue of patience, which is also part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

It’s the epitome of perfection in Christian character.

Blessed is the person who has acquired the character of patience; let him/her ask for no other blessing.

Prayer:

Almighty God, help me to keep on cultivating the character of patience that I may be complete as your servant, lacking in nothing. For the glory of your name, Amen!