Patience is a Virtue

Galatians 5:22,23

Patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset; forbearance, tolerance, restraint, long suffering.

Virtue: behavior showing high moral standards; goodness, righteousness, morality.

One of my favorite scripture verses begins in Galatians 5:22. I can remember this verse because it happens to be my birthdate.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ESV

It should be our earthly goal to embrace these. That often takes much self-control. We need to weigh our words and deeds before they ever leave our body.

Why do we rush things? Do we speak too hastily, or out of turn? Do we use harsh words that we regret later? Are we patient in the wrong situations and not so much in situations that require long suffering? I know that I failed in this more often that I care to remember. We hurt others. We get hurt in the process. Situations spiral out of control. Friendships are broken. Maybe even souls lost. All because our thoughtless sense of urgency overrides patience.

When you think of God observing His creation and all the evil that is running rampant upon the earth, you wonder how He doesn’t destroy the earth now. But God is long-suffering that no one should perish (be lost). That’s true love.

2 Peter 3:8,9

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but all should reach repentance.

Patience. I am a work in progress. I still fail all too often but I truly am trying. All I ask is that others might continue to be patient with me.

I am learning. ♥️

Andi

Photos: orchids at a greenhouse; the white one came home with me. I love orchids.