Two Surprising Ways That Patience Makes Life Better

The Oxford dictionary defines patience as “the ability to stay calm and accept a delay or something annoying without complaining.” Patience is also the ability to spend a lot of time doing something difficult that needs a lot of attention and effort.

Being patient is not easy. Life moves fast. We receive our deliveries in minutes. Information is just a click away. We are conditioned to get what we want, as soon as we want it.

Why would patience make life better when convenience is our norm?

1. Patience leads to stronger self-control and discipline

When we are patient, we make more thoughtful decisions. Patient people think about the outcomes they want to see in their lives and focus on them. This leads to better, happier lives.

For instance, if I want my life to be debt-free, patience helps me to achieve that goal. When I face the temptation to buy an item I had not planned for, patience helps me to pause before I buy. I will stop and consider if my purchase helps me to achieve my goal. If I really need the item, then I will plan and buy it later when I have more money available. Patience helps us to accept delays as we focus on the outcomes we want to achieve.

When we accept delay, self-control grows. We then choose to wait and not rush into immediate pleasure more often. Patience and self-control in one area of our lives often spreads to other areas, because it is powered by the Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP)

2. Patience leads to increased satisfaction and confidence

Better life outcomes build our confidence and capacity. If I exercise and eat better daily, in a few weeks my body will start to look and feel different. If I create good spending and saving habits, I will become less stressed about money over time. Good decisions have a ripple effect. They make our lives better, we are happier with ourselves, and we become more confident in our God-given ability to build productive and fulfilling lives.

There is another benefit we get from making good decisions. When we choose what is right over what is easy, we receive God’s blessings and joy.

When I am patient with my annoying neighbor, I am honoring Jesus. I am obeying God’s Word, which tells me to strive to live at peace with everyone. The satisfaction that comes from honoring Jesus far outweighs the fleeting pleasure of engaging in a shouting match with my neighbor.

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18, NIV

How then do we grow in patience?

We receive patience as a gift. We receive it in seed form when we accept the Holy Spirit into our lives. He gives us the capacity to grow in patience as we spend more time with Him in our quiet moments. Simply, having deliberate quiet time daily with God is the first step to access and live in true peace.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Phil 2:13

Second, we practice patience to grow in the discipline. Like the marathon runner, we train to expand what we already have. We cannot claim to be patient if we have not faced situations that demanded patience. Life gives us many opportunities to be patient, we just need to see these opportunities around us.

When we are faced with a long wait in traffic or at the airport, this is an opportunity to be patient. When our children are pushing us towards frustration, this is another opportunity. Little frustrations and annoyances in life are often opportunities in disguise to practice patience.

The question is, will we practice patience today? I pray that we will.

Stay blessed!