Having the “patience of Job” is a common saying, even if people don’t really know its origins. Job of course was the biblical character that suffered greatly before God restored him.

 

But if you read the book of Job, it’s not at all clear that he really had much patience!

 

Because being patient is really, really hard.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4–5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

 

In 1 Corinthians, we have our blueprint for practicing perfect love. Pure love. And when it comes to patience in this context, we are to train ourselves to be patient with those around us.

 

It requires a willful choice to be patient with someone—as long as it takes—in an effort to project Christ’s love outward. If a situation calls for you to be patient, just remember that someone in your life has had to be patient with you, too.

 

Let’s pray.

 

Lord, you call us to be patient and we want to obey, even though it’s against our natures. But we will follow you in this. Amen.