(Proverbs 19:11) A person’s wisdom yields patience.

The tree of biblical wisdom—living according to how God created us to live—produces many different kinds of fruit, but one of the primary characteristics demonstrated in the life of the wise is patience. 

Biblical patience is not simply grudgingly putting up with others or circumstances; it being rooted, content, and at peace in God and with ourselves. When we are at peace with God and ourselves, then we have the power to be patient with life itself (not just other people). 

Too often we lose patience and want to run ahead of what God is trying to do in our lives, or where he wants to lead us. When the Holy Spirit begins to do some deep character formation in our inner lives, we get uncomfortable and squeamish. But we are unrealistic to think that there is such a thing as instant character transformation. 

Spiritual growth is not like heating something up in the microwave. As fallen humans, we often prefer a surface-level religion, rather than a heart-level life as true follows of Jesus Christ. For God to do transformational character work in the depths of our inner life, and lead us in his timing, it requires that we live a life of patience. There is great promise concerning patience in Isaiah 40:31, it says, “Those who wait in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 

Patience is not living a passive, unmotivated life, it is living a dynamic, empowered life that is at peace with God, ourselves, and, as a result, others. Remember, patience is the fruit of wisdom, it is not the product of our will power. 

I am a visionary and initiator. I use to be (and often still are) overly frustrated (impatient) with ongoing talk and little action. But as I get older, and more experienced and wiser, I understand that God’s ways are not my ways, God’s timing is not my timing, not everyone is in the same place that I am, and that I can’t save the world, only God can.