Long-suffering
Today I would like to speak to you about one of the attributes of God—an attribute we should imitate, as beings created in His image and likeness. This attribute is patience—long-suffering, forbearance, and calm endurance.
A Patient Person
We must learn patience, and by doing so, we learn endurance. The Scripture says: “By your patience possess your souls,” and also: “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” It also says: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.” And the Psalmist says: “My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning.” That is, from the beginning until the end—until all the light of day is gone—the person must remain patient.
Look at how God acts:
God promised salvation to humankind, yet fulfilled it only after about 5,000 years. It was a lesson for humanity—to wait for the salvation of the Lord.
In the Timing of God’s Plan
A person without patience wants everything to happen according to his own timing, not according to God’s wise plan. Say to yourself: God has a wise timing; He does what is good at the best time. He chooses the seasons and moments that are most suitable and beneficial. Scripture says: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”
We must therefore learn to wait for the Lord with trust and contentment, knowing that the time He appoints is always best. God once promised Abraham a son, but the promise was not fulfilled until 25 years later. Abraham may have thought God had forgotten—but God never forgets. He was simply choosing the perfect moment.
Patience in Dealing with Sinners
God is patient even with sinners—like Pharaoh. See how long He endured Pharaoh’s hardness and cruelty! God was patient when Pharaoh rejected Moses, and even after each of the ten plagues. Each time Pharaoh cried, “I have sinned,” and still, God waited with amazing forbearance.
God’s way is gentle and patient; He works calmly and quietly until things are resolved. Regarding the Amorites, the Lord said: “The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” This means God sometimes delays judgment because the measure of sin is not yet full. So, if you sin repeatedly and no punishment comes, do not think God does not see—it is because your measure is not yet full.
The patience of God is meant to lead us to repentance. But if one does not repent, he faces the consequence of God’s justice.
Patience in Solving Problems
God is patient in solving problems. He may delay—not because He does not care, but because He chooses the right time. Think of Joseph the Righteous: his brothers threw him into a pit, sold him as a slave, and he was wrongfully imprisoned for years. Did God forget him? No—He was preparing the perfect time to raise him as a ruler. If God had acted immediately, Joseph would have remained a simple shepherd.
Sometimes you must give problems time. Be calm—don’t rush to solve everything at once. Let things take their proper course. Say, “This matter needs time; I will be patient.”
If someone rejects your attempt at reconciliation, don’t despair or give up—wait and pray. Many people suffer from what could be called a “fever of haste”—they want everything instantly and expect Heaven to move at their command!
Patience in Prayer
Pray without worrying about when or how the answer will come. Leave the matter to God, trusting that He will give what is good, in the right way, and at the right time.
Some people lack patience in prayer—they do not wait on the Lord, and instead complain, “Lord, You are silent, You are asleep.” Yet God is patient even with their complaints.
The Harm of Impatience
– The impatient person easily becomes anxious, irritated, and loses inner peace. He grows restless, always watching the clock.
– He may fall into despair quickly, saying, “There’s no use.”
– Often, he relies on human strength and worldly wisdom instead of waiting on God.
For example, Abraham—God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars, but Abraham could not wait, so he turned to human solutions by taking Hagar and Keturah. Likewise, Rebekah, though God had said “the elder shall serve the younger,” could not wait when she heard Isaac blessing Esau. She resorted to deceit to get the blessing for Jacob, which brought him lifelong troubles.
Human solutions may give fast results—but not according to God’s will, which, though delayed, brings true blessing. God’s way is calm and steady—step by step, until it is complete.
Some people even lack patience in conversation—they interrupt others, unable to wait until the other finishes speaking.
Patience in Service and Education
Patience is essential in ministry, teaching, and guiding others to God. A servant who does not see quick results may despair—either blaming himself or giving up on his students. But service requires patience. Change takes time—no one’s character transforms overnight.
Parents need patience with their children; spouses need patience with one another. Even a hen must sit on her eggs for a period before they hatch, and a seed must stay in the soil for a time before it sprouts and bears fruit—all this requires patience.
Sometimes impatience comes from weak nerves, but those with inner strength can bear and endure.
Impulsiveness and Haste
The impatient person is often impulsive and rash, leading to poor results. Such a person may take immature decisions—for instance, someone who fails an exam and then refuses to go to church in protest against God! This shows a shallow and unstable spirit. One must give time and remain calm.
God Trains His Children in Patience
When God promised Elijah rain after three and a half years, Elijah prayed once, twice, even six times, and nothing happened—until the seventh prayer, when a small cloud appeared like a man’s hand. Why did the rain not come after the first prayer? God was training Elijah in patience.
When James and John wanted to call down fire on Samaria because the people rejected Jesus, the Lord rebuked them and instead waited patiently—later, Samaria was saved.
Sometimes God delays His help to teach us patience. He may come in the last watch of the night or call laborers at the eleventh hour—so that we learn to wait for the Lord and be trained in the divine virtue of patience, one of the very attributes of God.
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