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Patience

I hate pain. I try to avoid suffering, I hate being poor and I don’t go out of my way to look for affliction. But pain, suffering, poverty and affliction find me. They find all of us.

If you are free of these things, brace yourself and be patient. All you have to do is live long enough. Suffering and affliction are human conditions. And when suffering and affliction come, be patient, remembering that God is God and in a good mood. There is a reason!

Patience is a gift of God in enduring life’s circumstances and sufferings. We know that in this world we will have trouble and suffer. Jesus promised that would be true. Persecution will come our way when we follow Jesus. Again, Jesus promised that.

Our patience finds favor with God even in the middle of suffering. Our patience moves God and Jesus shows us great compassion.

Patience is an attitude of the heart. It is because of the patience of Jesus suffering on my behalf that I have salvation. With the strength of the Holy Spirit, I can endure suffering with patience. I can persevere. I can finish the race. w00t!

The Greek word here is ὑπομένω hupŏmĕnō, hoop-om-en´-o. It means to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere:— abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.

1 Peter 2:20–23 (NASB) — For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.

Now this is interesting. I should be joyful when I encounter trials and my faith is tested. Really? Yup!

James 1:2–4 (NASB) — Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

And here is much more! 

  • Luke 8:15 (NASB) — “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.“
  • Luke 21:19 (NASB) — “By your endurance you will gain your lives.” ~Jesus
  • Romans 5:3–4 (NASB) — And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.
  • Romans 8:25 (NASB) — But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
  • Romans 12:12 (NASB) — Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.
  • Colossians 1:11 (NASB) — Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously.
  • 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NASB) — Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus the Messiah in the presence of our God and Father.
  • Titus 2:2 (NASB) — Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
  • Hebrews 12:1–3 (NASB) — Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
  • James 5:8 (NASB) — You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
  • 1 Peter 5:8–10 (NASB) — Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
  • Revelation 1:9 (NASB) — I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
  • Revelation 13:10 (NASB) — If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.
  • Revelation 14:12 (NASB) — Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

 

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