On Patience

(photo taken last summer in front of our house)
Patience and perseverence are alike in that they both reflect confidence in God to do His work. In fact, the Greek word hupomone is translated either patience or endurance. It is one of the most beautiful words in the Greek New Testament. It describes the ability of a plant to live under hard and unfavorable conditions. We would call it "staying power". It is commonly coupled with some kind of tribulation or testing. Patience not only bears but it bears with hope (Rom. 4:3; 15:4,5). It looks toward a goal.
"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near....
"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. you have heard of Job's perseverence and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:7,8,10,11)
God does not tell us to simply "grin and bear it", hoping all will work out. God is always at work in the process. That's the exciting part. Chrysostom (fourth century A.D.) calls patience "a root of all the goods, mother of piety, fruit that never withers, a fortress that is never taken, a harbor that knows no storms."
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)