As we celebrate Independence Day, it’s good to thank God for our country. We praise God for our freedoms and rights. We are grateful for religious liberty and free speech. Although our country faces many challenges, we are blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth. However, with all the blessings we enjoy today, one virtue is severely lacking. Patience is almost a forgotten quality. Ironically, the technology designed to save us time has made us less patient and busier. We want what we want, and we want it now. Whether it’s unusual traffic, long wait times, or delayed deliveries, we tend to be very impatient. We get easily annoyed when things don’t go our way.
Once again, our tendencies in life often shape how we view God. We sometimes assume that God acts like us. When we mess up, we imagine that God reacts the same way we do. We think that He’s frustrated and ready to give up on us. But thankfully, Scripture reveals that God is patient. What is patience? Patience is often used interchangeably with long-suffering or forbearance. It’s the ability to exercise self-control and endure people who annoy or provoke us. When we think about God’s patience, we’re reminded of our sinfulness. We provoked God’s wrath through our disobedience. We deserve eternal punishment for our sins. However, despite our rebellion, God is patient toward His people. Psalm 86:15 says that God is slow to anger. He endures our weaknesses. “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are but dust” (Psa. 103:14). So, God is patient with us.
Regarding God’s patience, 2 Peter 3 teaches us that God’s delay in bringing about the final judgment is for our benefit. As we anticipate Christ’s return, we can trust that God’s patience serves a purpose. Peter writes to believers in verse 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 that all should reach repentance.” Therefore, God’s delay works in our favor. Consider this—if Christ had returned 100 years ago, you might not be alive. If he had come 20 years ago, you may not have repented and faced His wrath. God’s delay is for our good. For those of us who have repented, it’s a blessing that God waited! This is why Peter concludes his letter by saying, “Count the patience of our Lord as salvation” (2 Pet. 3:15).
“If God is patient, then I’ll wait to follow Him later in life.” This is a common thought among unbelievers. However, Paul rebukes this foolish idea in Romans 2 when he warns those who think they can escape or control the coming judgment. In verse 4, he says God’s patience and kindness should lead us to repentance because we cannot escape His judgment on our own. We cannot presume upon God’s grace for the future and reject Him today. We’re called to repent now. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” You’re not promised tomorrow, so turn to Christ today.
As Christians, we are called to imitate God by practicing patience. This fruit of the Spirit should be visible in the lives of believers (Gal. 5:22). We should be slow to anger with our spouse, children, and friends because God is slow to anger with us. We should be self-controlled when faced with a grievance at work or on the road. This type of patience is impossible to achieve on our own, but as we humbly submit to God’s Spirit working through His Word, this fruit will become evident in our lives. The world could use more patience. We are so quick to become upset and defensive when things don’t go our way. Thankfully, God doesn’t act this way because He is patient.