Patience

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 16:32

Driving to the grocery store the other day, a car came racing up behind me riding my bumper. He kept swerving out like he was going to pass me. I was doing the speed limit, but I guess this was not fast enough for him. He finally did pass me in a no passing zone with oncoming traffic. The oncoming traffic had to slow down and he cut very close in front of my car to avoid a head-on collision. He caught up with the car that was a safe distance in front of me and rode their bumper also.

I don’t understand the willingness to endanger others to get one car ahead. Maybe it was just God reminding me and the oncoming car to not respond in anger and cut him off, but to pray for the person being reckless.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20

It seems that there is more and more anger in our world. Protests that become violet, football games have to be cancelled because of fights, and gang violence. But this is not how God wants us to act. Our anger accomplishes nothing. We should be growing more like God.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children. Ephesians 5:1

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. Psalms 103: 8-10

Patience is not always easy. We are living in an instant society. We are used to Amazon next day delivery and AI summaries so that we don’t have to read the whole book. But as Christians we are to be patient. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Unfortunately it is not an instant download. God often gives us trials to help our patience grow. And if we stay close to Him, our patience will grow over time.

We don’t want people to cut us off in traffic or to drive too slow. Both are preferences that if violated we can get angry. But we must remember that these are not a must have. Being close to God is the only must have for a Christian. If we love like God, we can give up our preferences for others. Our anger does not bring about righteousness. It is usually based on selfishness and does not shine the light of God into our world. God tells us to get rid of any form of anger.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3

We cannot get rid of anger and selfishness on our own. If we are staying close to God, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to help us live like Christ.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26 NIV

We just need to surrender daily to God and the Spirit will help us not be angry and to live humbly for God. Or if we do get angry because of sin, the Spirit will help us to not sin in our anger. We can actually have joy instead of anger.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“It is prayer, meditation, and converse with God that refreshes, restores, and renews the temper of our minds, at all times, under all trials, after all conflicts with the world. By this contact with the world unseen we receive continual accesses of strength. Without this healing and refreshing of spirit, duties grow to be burdens, the vents of life chafe our temper . . . lower the tone of our minds, and we become fretful, irritable, and impatient.” Henry Edward Manning

I pray that we can rejoice and give thanks in all things. Let’s do our part to reduce anger and increase joy and love of God.