We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
In Galatians chapter five, Paul lists out the fruits of the Spirit, the characteristics that will be manifested in our lives as we yield to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. One of those characteristics is longsuffering, which can also be translated patience. So we see that patience is something the Holy Spirit desires to work into our lives. Patience is not something we develop overnight, but it is a part of the growing and maturing process we go through as Christians.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
This passage in Romans tells us that because we have been justified (past tense), we have peace with God. And since we have been justified, we have been given access to the Father's grace whereby we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We then see that the tribulations that come our way are designed to produce perseverance (patience), that patience then produces character, and then character produces hope. You see, God is not mad at you. He is not frustrated with you. He's not sending things into your life to destroy you; nothing could be further from the truth.
Satan wants you to give up, to lose all hope that God is for you and with you. Satan loves it when you are impatient and don't allow the tribulations of life to produce patience. But read through Romans 5:1-5 one more time. Take notice of the promises of God to you. Don't listen to the lies of Satan, but trust in the promises and faithfulness of God.
So many people say that they know they need to learn to be patient, but they so easily forget that the road to patience travels through the valley of trial and tribulation. You may not know how you will meet the next rent payment. Or maybe you are facing large health issues. You don't understand how it is all going to work out, but let me remind you that you don't have to understand it all; you don't have to solve tomorrow's problems with today's resources. Allow the Holy Spirit to work patience into the depths of your soul. Don't give up your hope. I know it can be so hard on our flesh, but cast all your cares upon God and trust Him to perfect all that concerns you.
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever.
Psalm 138:8
