Ecclesiastes 7:8-9
Patience
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.
In the Bible we see patience consistently portrayed as one of the Great Virtues...Patience is not simply about passively waiting or sitting and waiting, but rather about actively trusting in God's Plan, knowing He is in Control of All Things and He makes decisions at the Perfect time...So if God does not get back to us in a day or longer with one of our prayers, this means that He is patient and waiting for the Right Time to answer your prayer, if it is a part of His Plan and is according to His Purpose...And this may take many days or months...But when you trust in God, you follow His timing and continue to trust Him...That is one of the reasons Jesus teaches us to be perfect as God is Perfect...This is because of His Perfect Timing may take awhile, but He is always there even in the midst of our most difficult of trials and circumstances...
We read about patience in the Bible...James tells us to: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance...Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."...
This passage emphasizes that patience is not a passive quality and that patience teaches us perseverance...So patience is a quiet, humble like virtue that shapes our character and strengthens our faith...Sometimes we learn patience through trials and difficulties, which in turn leads to maturity and perseverance and can strengthen our faith...
The Proverbs tells us: "Better to be patient than boastful; better to be humble in spirit than arrogant."...
So the author of Proverbs teaches us that patience is contrasted with arrogance and boasting, demonstrating its connection to humbleness and not reacting to things, but having better self-control...An enduring patience can be challenging, but we see how Job clung to his faith and endured and got to meet God, even though He was with Job all the time...And this Presence of God felt by Job was after much perseverance and enduring...
Solomon in Ecclesiastes tells us: "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride...Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools...
Here see that pride and arrogance are used in Scripture to talk about and contrast the virtue of patience...Patience can bring a more positive attitude and thus a more positive outcome in our lives...Patience hinders our arrogance and our pride, while promoting humility and perseverance...
Peter tells us that: "The LORD is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."...
God's Perfect Patience is a testament that He is LOVE, that He is Full of Grace and Truth, and He is a Most Forgiving God...He does not rush to judgment but allows time for individuals to turn from sin and embrace righteousness. His patience is an invitation to repentance and transformation...As Jonah said: I know that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in LOVE, a God who relents from sending calamity...
Patience, because we sometimes see it as someone sitting and waiting, it is actually a strength, because God works for those who love Him and brings out the good, in all those who follow Him and wait...And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose...Truly God as we communicate and pray to Him, we see that He is Truly a Patient Father and LORD...