Love is Patient

Love is patient . . . 1 Corinthians 13:4a

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

What does it mean to be patient?  The dictionary's definition is: bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like; quietly and steadily persevering or diligent.

We also see from the Bible that patience is a fruit of the Spirit, and a characteristic of God.  Patience is a virtue, we've been told, and a charming personality trait.  But, let's be honest - are you patient?  Do you bear annoyances with calm?  Can you quietly and steadily persevere? 

For me, looking at this characteristic of love, it is easy to see the ways my love is imperfect, the countless times I am impatient, not showing love. And it's also easy to look at patience as a virtue God gave to some, and not to others.  So now I must turn to this question:  Would God require a characteristic in us without equipping us for it?

The short answer is, no.  God calls us to be patient and give us the tools to learn patience.  Please note that patience is not automatic; few of us are born naturally patient.  But it can and should be learned! The wonderful thing about this loving God we serve is that what he calls us to do, he helps us do.  What he expects of us, he helps us with.  He calls us to love and then gives us his love to help us love him and others!  It's a cycle that I cannot fathom, that no other god or religion can claim.

So yes, if you are loving, you will be patient.  It doesn't mean that you won't blow it sometimes, but as you grow in Christ, you will blow it less often.  As you grow in Christ, you will develop patience . . . and then more . . . and then more . . . and then more.  

I've come to realize that this love chapter describes a process.  Love is not instant; love is a building.  It begins with a foundation in Christ, and then the first floor is built with patience.  To me, this might be the hardest aspect of love to develop!  Perhaps that is why Paul listed it first.  If you begin with patience - with others, and with yourself as you are building your love! - the other characteristics will come.