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WHY PATIENCE SUCH A VIRTUE?
by: Gener Marcelo

I’m having a lull in my writing and seems like I couldn’t find any articles to write when I chanced upon a reply posted in a thread which I started myself a couple of months ago. One reader commented that; “Patience is not a virtue but simply a waste of time”.

Her reply somewhat inspires me to write this article (I thank her for that) and I would like to answer my reader’s point of view with a question; Why is patience such a virtue?

I was born a serious person. My threshold for nonsense thing is very low and I get easily annoyed when things don’t measure to my ‘standard’. I get easily annoyed when I see nonsense commercials on TV, seeing actors and actresses look like moron for their sloppy acting performance, irritated when somebody tries to cut me off my driving path and even reacted to an article passed through e-mail.

And if patience is such a virtue, I know I don’t have it, at least for now.


Seeking God’s help to change my ways

Lack of patience results to anger and it is one of the most common emotions, but we often fail to see how it can also be one of the most dangerous. If I will allow myself to go that far, of letting my emotion overruns me, it would be unhealthy and would even lessen my life expectancy.

The Bible has so many answers that I know would change my ways.

Romans 15:5 . . . May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other-each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.

Galatians 5:22 . . . When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

Colossians 1:11 . . . We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need.


We can choose the way we respond to circumstances

Patience leads to harmony with others, endurance to handle difficult circumstances, and an expectant attitude of hope that things will get better. It demonstrates a thoughtful and careful attitude toward others feelings. Anyone can be patient, but there is a higher level of patience which comes from God through his Holy Spirit’s presence and work in our lives.

God’s love and work in our daily lives often brings patience. Patience is a characteristic of love. The more loving we become, the more we model the nature of God in our lives, so let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

Patience is evidence of strength of character. Enduring patience flows from strong character. It is also an aspect of faith and hope. The greater our hope, the more we patiently wait for it, and the more our faith grows that it will truly happen.

Patience is the key to achieving many goals. Achieving goals is rarely done with a quantum leap, but rather by small footsteps. Patience is the key to enduring suffering. Suffering is better endured when patiently endured. God uses our relationships to develop our patience. Abrasive relationships teach us to patiently endure. Loving relationships teach us to patiently enjoy.

God uses life circumstances to develop our patience. We do not always choose the circumstances that come our way, but we do choose the way we respond to them.


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When Jesus was in the temple to talk to learned men, priests and the pharisees, he had patience for 3 days to learn from them and to teach from them. Patience and Wisdom were His, that His Father was Glad with Him.

When Christ Jesus, The Only begotten Son of the Father, went to Galilee to talk to the Hebrews and to hear their pleas and their requests to be cured. He had patience. Patience to offer His Word and to Hear their Cries.

When Our Lord, Jesus Christ, WHO is GOD Blessed Forever, was judged under Pontius Pilate and spitted by the Jews and nailed to the cross, he had Patience, and asked His Father to Forgive Us for we knew not what we were doing. Patience!

When Apostle Peter went to Rome to teach and evangelize the gentiles, he had patience to spread the word UNDER fear of death.

When Apostle Peter was nailed to the cross upside down, he had patience to demand that he be nailed upside down because he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as The Lord Jesus Christ.

When Apostle John was condemned to death by Nero to a pot of boiling oil, he had patience to reiterate the Word of God. Even when he did not die in oil and came out unscathed, he still had patience. And when the entire colloseum converted to Christianity at seeing this miraculous event, still Apostle John had patience.

Patience is truly a virtue.



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Gener,

There is a particular passage in the Book of Psalms that you would love to read.

I am talking about Psalm 37.

However, this is the specific verse that I am trying to relay:

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

--Psalm 37:7-9


Patience is what defines our character. Patience is also the volume of our faith. To be able to believe and stay true to your faith in Christ Jesus, as well as in Sacred Tradition in lieu with Sacred Scripture, that is what illustrates faith.

It parallels the faith of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us centuries and millenias ago.

God Bless,

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