The Spirit of Patience

By Donna Caesar

Port of Spain Church of Christ, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

Scriptures: Galatians 5:22; 25, Luke 2:25-38, Romans 8:25

I weighed 180 lbs. (Sigh). I embarked on a strict exercise program with a friend who is a trainer on September 22, 2021. This program also calls for me to modify my diet – which I did – and drink only water – which I have been doing. Today is November 4, 2021. I weigh 180 lbs. (Sigh). My trainer says I have to be patient. If I am doing all I am supposed to do, the weight will eventually go. So, I soldier on, waiting (not always patiently) for the weight to drop while asking God why He is not making me lose weight when I am trying so hard. Truth is, I hate having to be patient. I hate having to wait to lose the weight. I get anxious. I want to see results now!

Can you relate? 

My lack of patience also comes out when I counsel sisters on a matter over and over and they don’t seem to take the advice, follow the scriptures and change. Why can’t they just get it? I get annoyed. I lack tolerance and sometimes it shows.

One web definition of patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.” In Galatians 5:22, the fourth fruit of the Holy Spirit is patience. I say to myself, “But I have the Holy Spirit, why is it so hard for me to be patient?” The answer comes to me in verse 25: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Am I keeping in step? If I keep in step with the Holy Spirit, I will be aware of Him at all times as I go about my daily life. I will hear Him telling me – Stop. Calm down. Wait. Pray. Listen. Love. Be patient – with others and even with myself. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and I dearly want to have it manifested in my life consistently.

In Luke 2:25-35, Simeon is a great example of patience. He was righteous and devout. He was waiting for Jesus, the comfort and consolation of Israel. It seems likely that he was waiting for a very long time. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen Baby Jesus. He waited patiently and, I daresay, happily to pronounce his prophecy because the Holy Spirit said it would happen. In Luke 2:36-38, Anna had grown old patiently waiting for Jesus as well. In the waiting period, she never remarried. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying (wow!). Simeon and Anna seemed to have the supernatural hope mentioned in Romans 8:25, But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

It is obvious to me that Simeon and Anna were both keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was able to flourish and work in them because of their righteousness, devoutness, daily and nightly worship, fasting and prayer. These five qualities, when present in abundance, allows the Holy Spirit to be upon us, live with us, move within us and manifest all spiritual fruit. We gain the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. We gain the ability to be supernaturally patient. We exhibit the same patience God has with us.

Another lesson we can learn is that the fruit of the Spirit is formed in us over time; it does not happen overnight because we aren’t always in tune with and obedient to the Holy Spirit. It seemed, as time went by and Simeon and Anna practiced living devoutly, the fruit of the Spirit was formed in them. I must have an attitude change and not expect instant results but look at the process of forming as an opportunity to practice holiness daily.

Please join me in practicing the five qualities of righteousness, devoutness, daily and nightly worship, fastingand prayer to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and to have Him flourish and work in each of us as we grow in all spiritual fruit (for me in particular, the Spirit of patience). I am putting the five on my fridge!

One love from the Caribbean and have a lovely time celebrating the birth of our Lord!