PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE

INTRODUCTION

We live in a world full of uncertainties and many people for fear of the unknown lose focus in life and engage in ungodly lifestyles believing it is a way to succeed or make ends meet. Our success can only come from God who is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and the architect of our lives. God created man in His own image and had always been interested in the affairs of Man. No wonder he assured us in Matthew 6:26, Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? ²⁸ And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: ²⁹ And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ³¹ Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

WHAT IS PATIENCE?   

Patience can be defined as the ability to accept delays or troubles calmly. 

Patience also means a cheerful end. It is also known as waiting on God in anticipation of overcoming every issue of life. Patience is a Christian virtue and a part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is also known to be one of the attributes of God. 

In another way, patience can be defined as experiencing and surviving pain or hardships. It is the power of going on in spite of difficulties. Patience is synonymous with determination, perseverance, tenacity, plodding, stamina and backbone. 

Endurance in the Bible means to bear up courageously, abide under and to tarry or wait. I will liken the Endurance to that of a soldier who endures pain even in battle and also pursues to win the battle before him. (2 Tim. 2:3). It is also a quality of self-restraint of not giving way to anger even in the face of provocation.  

THE NEED FOR PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE 

Realizing what is involved in the Word helps us to see that patience and endurance are greatly needed in our daily lives. 

• We need patience in order that we might endure trials. The word trials (peirasmois) can mean either inward temptations to do wrong or outward trials such as suffering or persecution for the name of Jesus. We have not arrived at a state of completeness until we are able to endure these trials that will come. Patience gives us maturity and completeness and also causes us to be deficient in nothing. The man who had patience will not give up in the midst of battle, he will keep on until victory is won. While trials come, we need to endure. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the former days when they endured a great conflict of suffering and urges them not to throw away their confidence which has great reward. (Heb. 10:31-35). It is important to wait until you get results from the Lord (Psalm 40:10).
• We need patience and endurance to run the Christian race. (Heb. 12:1-2). There is some glory attached to completing a race even as we look forward to finishing well and sting.  The Christian life was never promised as an easy way to live, instead, Paul constantly reminds us that we must have a purpose and plan because times will be difficult. He encouraged us in 1 Cor. 9:24-27 not to run aimlessly. Patience will help us to remain focused on our heavenly race. 
• We need patience and endurance to live at peace with all men which is a command from God (Heb. 12:14). When we develop the attitude of waiting, it gives us a better understanding and ideas to handle issues (Prov. 14:29, Prov. 19:11) “A patient man has understanding but a quick-tempered man displays folly” Human beings are created with different temperaments so we need the patience to be in good relationship with other people. Prov. 16:32. A man‘s wisdom helps him to be patient either to be a leader or follower. Even Jesus was teaching his disciples until the moment of his death. Jesus is an example of patience for us. 
• We need patience and endurance to raise a godly family. Patience is needed in the relationship between husband and wife, couples and in-laws, parents and children, etc. Raising godly children is a job with no time limit and so requires a lot of patience and also raising them in the word of God. (Eph. 6:4, Prov. 13:1).
• We will always receive great rewards if we are patient to the end. A quick glance at the New Testament shows that patience (along with closely related CHRISTIAN VIRTUES of endurance and perseverance) is one of the most valuable virtues. In connection to Christian maturity and growth, We were told in the parable of the sower, that the good soil represents the ones with noble and good hearts, who heard the word, retained it and by patience produced good fruit (Luke 8:15)

CONSEQUENCES OF IMPATIENCE 

We live in a generation where people easily blame others for their own mistakes. Cutting Corners to get whatever we want is the order of the day. People see it as being smart. Saul was rejected as the king of Israel because he could not wait for Samuel as commanded by the Lord and he offered that sacrifice himself (1 Sam. 13:1-14). It is difficult to trust God when you feel resources slipping away. When faced with difficult decisions, do not allow impatience to drive you to disobey God. Impatience affects so many areas of our lives such as just to mention a few: 

• Girl’s getting married to the wrong man 
• People getting the wrong job or the right job at the wrong time
• Parents getting children from the wrong source when God promised us in Psalm 127:3 that children are reward by him. 
• Getting into the wrong school, course of study or career.
• Driving in the wrong lane leading to traffic jams. 

Impatience leads to slavery, pain, agony, confusion, Chaos and so many other evil things. God promised Abraham a child but Sarah‘s impatience made them to get a child through their maid which is the origin of the religious crisis between the Christians and the Muslims today.

They later waited patiently for the promised child till the age of 100 years for Abraham and 90 years for Sarah. Hebrews 6:15 says of Abraham, “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” but the problem caused by their impatience is still in existence.  

HOW TO DEVELOP PATIENCE 

Patience is a virtue (2 Peter 1vs6). It takes a lot of effort to develop patience but thankfully we are not left alone to work it out. This is because is the grit of the holy spirit, and since He is in us, He will bear his Fruits in us (Gal. 5:22). The three Biblical ways to develop patience include;

• Be thankful that trials produce patience: No one wants to undergo suffering without any expected result. Bodybuilders lift heavy weights to grow muscles, athletes exercise and practice to get better at their sport and artist practice to have skills in their craft. In the same way, trials develop patience, the more trials we face the more opportunities we get to develop patience (James 1:2-3). Constant reading and studying the word of God will help us to understand the mind of God in every situation.
• Co-operation with the Holy Spirit: Since patience (long-suffering) is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, it goes without saying that we must cooperate with Him to develop patience in us. 1 Peter 1vs6.
• Look to Jesus Christ:If we want to develop patience in ourselves, we need to look at the ultimate model of a patient man, the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:1-2). God wants us to be like Jesus Christ and the more we become Christ-like, the more we will have patience with ourselves, our families, and friends, the people we do not know and even people who hate us. Christ was patient with us all and in all situations. We can learn from Him. 

CONCLUSION: 

Patience and endurance are needed in our lives. The proper application of patience and endurance is an important condition for our growth, maturity and wholesome as Christians. 

When we face trials and difficulties in life, it brings us closer to God. We need patience and endurance, so that after we have done the will of God, we may receive the promise. 

Impatience, annoyance, intolerance, worry, fear, and distrust are the opposites of patience. These prevent us from seeing, as our lord wants us to see, that all things will work for our good in the end (Rom. 8:28) 

We should hang on, place our trust in Him, and not let the temporary things of life bother or distract us from the purpose and call.