By Ruth Yong Wang Theen
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” — Galatians 5:22 (NLT)
Patience isn’t merely about waiting longer — it’s about waiting well. In a world that celebrates speed and instant gratification, cultivating patience is becoming a lost art. Yet the Bible calls us to something different. It speaks of patience as a fruit of the Spirit, a discipline shaped in waiting, hardship, and grace.
So how do we hold on when God feels silent? How do we respond with gentleness when people test our limits? How do we become more patient in the spaces where it feels impossible to be so? Before diving into the four ways we can grow in patience, let’s first understand why this virtue matters so much.
What is patience, and why does it matter?
Patience is not weakness. It is strength restrained, hope held, and peace protected. In the Bible, patience is often paired with endurance — the ability to remain steadfast under trial and to trust God’s timing rather than our own. We need patience in waiting — for healing, direction, open doors.
We need patience with people — those who hurt, frustrate, or fail us. We even need patience with ourselves — in our failures, growth, and slow progress. What would our lives look like if we truly allowed God to grow patience within us?
Let’s dive in to the four ways we can grow in patience, even in the most challenging seasons.
1. Accept that discomfort is part of growth
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1:4 (NIV)
Growth never happens without discomfort. Just as muscles are stretched through resistance, our character is strengthened through trials. Waiting, uncertainty, and hardship often bring discomfort — but they are the very soil in which patience is nurtured.
Many of us try to avoid discomfort at all costs. We look for quick fixes, distractions, or ways to numb the ache. But the Christian life is not one of escape — it’s one of endurance. Scripture reminds us that waiting is not wasted when we are anchored in Christ. In fact, it’s often in those prolonged seasons that God is doing His deepest work in us.
Discomfort does not mean God is absent. It may mean He is inviting us to lean on Him more deeply, to trust beyond what we can see, and to allow our faith to mature.
Reflect: What areas of discomfort have you been trying to avoid instead of embracing? How might God be using this season to grow patience in you?
2. Practise the discipline of forgiveness
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” — Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” — Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
Forgiveness and patience go hand in hand. It’s difficult to remain patient with others if we’re holding on to offence. When someone repeatedly hurts or annoys us, resentment can quickly build — unless we’re anchored in the practice of forgiveness.
One area where this is especially hard is with family. For many, patience is most tested not in public but at home. If you’ve ever been disrespected, misunderstood, or harshly treated by a family member, you’ll know how easy it is to snap — to raise your voice, show anger, or walk away emotionally. But God calls us to something higher. He calls us to bear with one another in love.
Forgiveness is not a feeling. It’s a decision — one that may need to be made daily. And it’s a discipline, because it goes against our natural instinct to retaliate or hold a grudge. When we forgive, we are not saying the wrong was insignificant. We are saying that we choose mercy over bitterness, peace over punishment. Forgiveness frees us to engage with others without constantly counting their faults — which is essential for patience to flourish.
Reflect: Who do you need to forgive today, even if they haven’t asked for it? How might holding on to offence be hindering the fruit of patience in your life?
3. Extend the same grace you’ve received
“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.” — 1 Timothy 1:16 (NIV)
Patience becomes easier when we remember the grace we’ve received. God has been patient with us — in our failures, stubbornness, and repeated mistakes. He does not rush us into perfection, nor does He grow weary in loving us.
When we grasp how deep His patience runs, we become more willing to extend that same grace to others. Instead of expecting people to change overnight or meet our every expectation, we become gentler, more understanding, and slower to judge.
This doesn’t mean ignoring wrong or enabling poor behaviour — but it does mean responding with the compassion God shows us every day.
Reflect: Do you show others the same grace God has extended to you? In what relationships do you need to trade frustration for grace?
4. Trust God’s timing
“But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.” — Romans 8:25 (NLT)
“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
One of the hardest lessons in life is learning that God’s timing rarely aligns with ours — but it is always perfect. We often want instant answers, immediate results, and quick resolutions. But God is not in a hurry. He sees the full picture, while we only see in part.
For those who have been searching for a job or a breakthrough for years, this kind of patience can feel like a burden. Doors remain closed, opportunities dry up, and hope can begin to fade. And yet, Scripture urges us to keep waiting confidently. Not because the waiting is easy, but because the One we wait for is faithful.
To grow in patience is to surrender control — to trust that what God is doing in the unseen is just as important as what we’re waiting to see come to pass. It is to believe that His delays are not denials, and His silence is not absence. Trusting God’s timing transforms our waiting into worship. It teaches us to rest, not strive; to believe, not panic.
Reflect: Where in your life are you struggling to trust God’s timing? How might patience reshape your perspective in this season of waiting?
The power of patience in a world that has forgotten how to wait
Patience is not just for our personal peace. It is a testimony. In a world driven by urgency, impatience, and reactivity, a patient spirit stands out. It tells the world that our hope is not in circumstances, but in Christ. It points to a deeper source of strength, a slower rhythm, a steadier peace. How might your life look different if patience were your default posture? What would your relationships look like if they were rooted in grace, trust, and endurance?
To be patient is to reflect the heart of God Himself — who is “slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8, NIV). As we grow in patience, we not only become more like Christ — we also become vessels of His peace in an anxious world.
