Patience: Waiting on the Lord
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” — Galatians 5:22–23
The fruit of the Spirit is not something we produce on our own—it is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within us. But as Galatians 5:16–17 reminds us, “the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.” Our sinful nature constantly pulls us away from God, but when we walk by the Spirit, our lives begin to bear fruit that reflects Jesus.
If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must stay connected to Jesus. That means knowing Him, loving Him, remembering His words, and imitating His life. We must live each day guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Today, I want to reflect on patience—also called longsuffering. It’s the ability to remain calm and controlled even when facing difficulties, delays, or the actions of others that would normally frustrate or anger us.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14
David understood the struggle of waiting. He was anointed king at just 16 years old but didn’t actually become king until he was 30. He spent years running from Saul, living in caves, and facing rejection. Waiting for God to act wasn’t easy—but David learned that God was worth waiting for.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” — Lamentations 3:22–26
God often uses waiting seasons to renew us, teach us, and shape our faith. It may feel like He’s silent or distant—but He’s working behind the scenes. In our own journey, this is exactly what God has asked the Zacharys to do—WAIT.
So let’s not waste our waiting. Let’s ask: What is God trying to teach me in this season? Let’s choose to hope in Him, trust in His timing, and let patience grow in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.