Wednesday; June 9

Have you noticed that the people with whom we need to be the most patient are the ones who irritate us the most? When I go back and re-read the previous statement, I realize I have a firm grasp of the obvious. Most people with whom we have patience, don’t typically need it – but there are some who test our limits (and our spirituality). The other day I was reminded of the need for patience when I read Ephesians 4:2, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (NIV). Paul’s admonition got me to thinking about why we need to express patience – here are a few reflections:


1. Some people require patience because they are under stress. Often, people are difficult because they are in a tough place in their lives. They don’t purposefully intend to irritate us, they do it because they are displaying a crisis response.

2. Some people require patience because they have emotional issues. A lot of people who are able to function in much of society may have some sort of mental illness or emotional condition that makes them annoying. The deeper we get to know people, the more apt we are to find out what we can do to help them without becoming frustrated by their behavior.

3. We will receive the amount of patience we display. I believe that we will get what we give. If we are patient with others, more people will be patient with us (and the converse is true). When we invest patience in others, we are apt to receive it when we need it in our own lives.
Let’s be patient. Sometimes for their good … sometimes for our own.

Think About It! 

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