Editor’s note: How can you keep going through hard times and even produce good fruit in difficulty? Today we are continuing our series on bearing fruit with patience, as today a Chinese house church pastor considers how difficult — but necessary — patience is for people trying to follow God in trying times.
I want to share with you several biblical truths about patience.
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Patience is one of God’s attributes
Longsuffering, or patience, is an attribute of God. In the Bible, God is first and foremost the patient God.
Psalm 103:8 says: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Micah 7:18: “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.”
When we meditate on God’s patience, our own hearts will become more patient.
In the New Testament, Paul writes in Romans 2:4: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” and then in Romans 3:25: “Whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”
When we think about God’s patience with the Israelites, we should think about how God, with enduring patience, prepared for Jesus’s arrival. Think of how Jesus patiently endured the insults of sinners. And think of what Peter said, that God is still patiently waiting, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.
We are called to imitate God. This certainly includes imitating his longsuffering. When we meditate on God’s patience, we better understand the Father’s heart for his children. We better understand the mercy of the Holy One toward sinners, and the wisdom of the Father as he patiently prepares for a long-term future.
When we meditate on God’s patience, our own hearts will become more patient. We will better understand that the Father places us in unfavorable circumstances to teach us obedience, and to bear fruit with patience. We will have more patience with our fellow workers, with our brothers and sisters in their immaturity, and even with those who offend us.
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Patience is challenging to human nature
The Bible shows us that patience is not easy. It challenges our human nature. Moses was described as “very meek, more than all people on the face of the earth” – but even for him, patience often reached its limits and was challenging. He said: “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who murmur against me?” When the Israelites brought their complaints to Moses, it was a great challenge for him to bear with them.
If we try to practice patience by relying on our natural human resources, it is like climbing a tree to catch fish.
Jesus was perfect. But in Mark 9:19, he said: “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” Even Jesus, with his perfect and sinless human nature, had limits with facing the insults of sinners on earth – so much so that he often needed to retreat to the wilderness to pray and regain his strength.
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Think about Moses, think about Jesus, and then think about ourselves. Unlike Jesus, we have a sinful nature and live in a world full of sin. Even after we believe and are reborn, our old self and sinful nature still influences us – sometimes drastically.
If we try to practice patience by relying on our natural human resources, it is like climbing a tree to catch fish. Natural man often either loses patience and erupts (often justifying the outburst with phrases like, “I couldn’t help it, I only scolded you out of love”). Or, they may endure with resentment, growing increasingly bitter.
Sometimes we may appear patient and kind to others. But according to our natural human nature, the essence of our inner being is devoid of patience and kindness.
Take myself! In public life, many people may think I am patient and treat others well. But I am often impatient and unkind to my family, and am often filled with bitterness. This reality forces me to admit: enduring love is not a natural characteristic of my inner being. All this tells me one thing: I need a Savior. I need the gospel of Christ.
In recent years, the external environment here in China has worsened. Many people ask, “What is the significance of the gospel in these circumstances? Does the gospel still work?””
Patience is not easy. It challenges our human nature. Our inability to be patient reveals our sin and our sinful nature, showing that we truly need the gospel. We need a Savior. Only by continually crying out to the Lord, only through the Holy Spirit, only through union with Christ can we slowly allow enduring patience to grow within us.
In recent years, the external environment here in China has worsened. Many people ask, “What is the significance of the gospel in these circumstances? Does the gospel still work?” It is precisely in times like this that we realize: the darker the night, the brighter and more awe-inspiring the stars in the sky, and the more comfort and hope they bring to those on a journey.
When earthly hopes are shattered one by one and circumstances worsen, our patience and endurance are challenged. In times like this, the gospel, the Savior, and the Holy Spirit who dwells within us become more real, more glorious, and they more deeply captivate our hearts.
When we find that we lack patience, this reveals our profound need for the gospel. This highlights the preciousness of the Savior whom God has given us. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will work in our hearts and transform us more deeply through the gospel.
Paul Peng is the pastor of Blessings Reformed Presbyterian Church, a Chinese house church.
Pray for Chinese Christians to be patient as they face the difficulties of their current circumstances.
