Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly (Proverbs 14:29, NIV).
As a father, I have been learning that this is a very important truth to be learning. Knee-jerk reactions as a parent have a very strong tendency to make things worse instead of better. Being the father of three girls between the ages of 8 and 11 (affectionately referred to as “the monkeys”) this is a lesson God has been regularly engaging me in for some time. There is a big difference between responding to something and reacting to something. Responding requires patience, reacting does not. I can tell you from personal experience that my monkeys are much more appreciative and responsive to my parenting when I am patient instead of quick-tempered.
Of course, this goes well beyond parenting. Patience is often mentioned in Scripture as one of the fruits that is seen in the person who is living for God through Christ.
Romans 12:12 (NIV) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) Love is patient.
Galatians 5:22 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is…patience.
Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV) And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
To learn patience means that God is going to bring us to places where that quality can be practiced; and that means being brought to places where we are tempted to be impatient. You know what I am talking about. Patience is grown by experiencing times where we need to be content with waiting when we want instant gratification. It means being willing to learn to listen when what we want to do is start talking. It means being in situations where we have to control our temper. It means deciding to be willing to endure suffering when we have to rather than constantly trying to find a way to get out from under it. It means learning to encourage people to grow in their faith at their own pace and not our own (be that faster or slower). It means putting the needs of others before our own, when what we really want is to focus on our own needs. One of the reasons we all have such experiences is so that we can grow in patience. It doesn’t just happen. God doesn’t just zap that quality into us, He grows it in us so that it becomes a natural part of who we are.
The upshot of all this is if you have been wondering why God has not answered your prayers to wipe out all your problems and get all those lousy complaining, griping, thumb-suckers out of your life, now you know one reason that might be. He’s working on helping you learn to be patient as He is patient. =)
Learning To Be Full Of Grace And Truth. 
A-to-the-MEN!
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