pramsay posted on February 28, 2006 02:57
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Road rage. Horn blasting, steering wheel thumping and incomprehensible mutterings as you tail gate. The exasperation of waiting for a real person to help you over the phone as the music or company promo's annoy your ear drums. The anxiety of waiting to hear back from a job interview. The frustration of waiting for God to intervene in your life. "Why can't He just snap His fingers and make it happen? This is getting ridiculous - does He even care about my situation?!!"
In Numbers 21:4, we read that the children of Israel 'journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea.....and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way." They had become impatient, irritable and angry - is the thought. They were fed up with the wilderness experience! "So much for this bright future Moses promised us! The time is long; the food is gross; the journey is tough and despite what you say Moses, anything would be better than this - even old Egypt!"
As harsh and unappreciative as the words of the Israelites may sound, sometimes we ourselves have wallowed in such negativity, frustration and impatience. The Christian virtue called 'patience' is prominent throughout the New Testament. It is a quality that should distinguish believers in an impatient and intolerant world. Watch for the words: patience, patient, patiently, longsuffering, forbearance and endurance. Calmly and sweetly putting up with people, things, circumstances or trials is one of God's development projects in us and for us. Sometimes we say "grin and bear it!" but we are really “grimacing and bearing” it against our will, and uttering inaudible words throughout the day. That is controlled impatience - not patience!!
Longsuffering is one of the elements of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. Paul told Timothy to pursue patience. (1Timothy 6:11) Trials produce patience according to James 1:3,4. Peter talks about self control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. (2Peter 1:6)
But you say: “Tempers and angry outbursts are just a part of my personality. It runs in our family. My grandpa could ‘lose his temper’ over anything.” Sorry.That excuse doesn’t work. The ‘God of patience’ (Romans 15:5) values patience in our lives and will produce it in our lives, if we will let Him.
What’s the difference between patience and longsuffering? Patience usually pertains to our approach to the circumstances of life; longsuffering usually refers to our attitude towards people. Not only is God the God of patience, but He is also ‘the longsuffering God’ towards people, not willing that any should perish. (2Peter 3:9)
Unless I am suffering from a clinical depression, annoyance, frustration, short fuses, anger, and impatience are indicators of my distance from Christ - not closeness to Him. The more we study Christ in the Scriptures and get to know Him each day, the more evident 'patience' will become in our lives. By the way, it is possible to accumulate extensive knowledge of the Bible (as a textbook) but fail to grow in our relationship with Christ. Intimacy with Christ produces patience. Patience and longsuffering are key indicators of my closeness to Christ.