GOD-GIVEN PATIENCE

GOD-GIVEN PATIENCE
Monday, June 15, 2026 by Linda Wood Rondeau

James 1:4 NIV

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

My word for 2024 was Patience.

The adage is: never pray for Patience because God answers prayers in ways we can’t imagine. How true.

The last two years have been challenging, with asthma and arthritis conditions ramped up. Ambulation deteriorated to the point that I was barely able to walk a few steps without help. God did give me some management advice, and we bought a rollator, which I named My Cadillac.

I finally surrendered. “Lord, if this is my new normal.

So be it. I’ll trust your plan.”

Soon after, God renewed my walking ability during a sermon on how Peter and John healed the lame man. God reminded me that complete healing would take time. “Be patient a little longer.”

I’m gaining strength and endurance each week, for which I am ever so grateful. I sense that God has a purpose for this healing and is renewing my physical, spiritual, social, and psychological strength for His purpose.

According to the worldview definition, patience is not passive waiting; it is active strength. It benefits the body by lowering stress responses, the emotions by improving self-control and resilience, the spirit by deepening trust and wisdom, and society by helping people listen, forgive, collaborate, and build healthier relationships.

God-given patience goes deeper.

When we approach God to ask for patience and practice daily communion with Him, He helps us reduce anxiety and the erosion of our mental well-being from chronic frustration. For me, it took surrender before God could infuse me with Patience for what is ahead.

Bruce Lee is credited with the quote: “Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is concentrated strength.”

God-given patience helps us focus on what is truly important.

God-given patience creates space between impulse and response, helping those who trust in Him to tolerate disappointment and make wiser choices under pressure.

Trust, obedience, and endurance are developed through God-given patience.

Patience is a fundamental virtue in the Christian life, often associated with spiritual growth and maturity. It is the ability to endure trials, delays, and sufferings without becoming anxious or losing faith. In the context of spiritual growth, patience is both a fruit of the Spirit and a necessary component for developing a deeper relationship with God … Bible Hub commentary

God-given patience will also help in our interpersonal relationships. As God develops the fruit of Patience in us, we begin to see others more in tune with the eyes of God. It is not tolerance; rather, love … the ability to love people who think, live, and look different than us.

God-given patience, as I learned, is not an overnight experience. Just as my healing is taking place over time, God-given patience is a process we can only truly gain through daily communion with our Lord

God indeed has a sense of humor. He chose children to teach us, too-smart adults, what being his child means, the very special relationship the believer enjoys with our Heavenly Father. We adults, experience the same chaos, misadventure, and heartaches as our charges. Through a child’s example, we learn how God nurtures us with his infinitesimal patience. This easy-to-read, often hilarious narrative uses cartoons, witticisms, anecdotes, quotes, and Scripture study to bring home these truths. A veteran social worker, Rondeau draws upon her many experiences in working with families as well as her personal experiences as a mom. You will want to keep this book close at hand for those moments of weakness and pass the story along to your friends.