The fruit of the Spirit · 4 of 9
Patience
Greek makrothymia · “longsuffering” in the King James Bible
Long-tempered love: slow to anger with others, as God is slow to anger with us.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”2 Peter 3:9 (King James Version)
The word
Paul's word is makrothymia, literally “long-tempered,” the opposite of short-tempered. The King James Bible calls it longsuffering. It is patience with people more than patience with traffic: bearing with others, and with trials, without giving up on them.
Patient like God
When God passed before Moses on Mount Sinai and proclaimed his own name, longsuffering was among the first things he said about himself:
“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”Exodus 34:6 (King James Version)
Peter says the same of God's delays: they are not slowness, but mercy, giving every person time to come home.
Patient like a farmer
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”James 5:7–8 (King James Version)
A farmer cannot hurry the rain or the harvest. He does his work, waits, and trusts. Patience is not doing nothing. It is faithful work that leaves the timing to God.
Bearing with one another
Paul lists longsuffering with the clothes Christians are to “put on,” and ties it to forgiveness: “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another … even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13). St. Teresa of Ávila kept a simple prayer in her breviary that ends, in Longfellow's translation: “Patient endurance attaineth to all things; who God possesseth in nothing is wanting; alone God sufficeth.”
Three simple practices
- Pause before you answer. When someone tries your patience, take one slow breath and pray silently, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” before you reply.
- Give the waiting to God. Name what you are waiting for, and offer it to him each morning instead of carrying it all day.
- Forgive one old debt. Let go of one grievance you have been holding, even if the other person never asks (Colossians 3:13).
A closing prayer
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that, by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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