One of the things that I try to work on every day of every week of every month of every year is being as patient as I possibly can be in any circumstances in life. There are times when I am very good at this. There are times when I am not very good at this. Some things that help me with being patient include the following: when possible, think before I react; take a few deep breaths before making a decision; let the other person do what he or she thinks is right even though you know that the person is wrong; say to myself, “What would Jesus do?”; ask myself, “What is my heart telling me to do compared to what my mind is telling me to do?” The bottom line is that it is tough to be patient in different situations. Below are a few Scripture passages that may help with trying to be as patient as possible in a number of different circumstances.
- James 1:2–4 – Trials can form perseverance and help you grow in spiritual maturity.
- Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
- Galatians 5:22–23 – Patience is named among the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
- Colossians 3:12–13 – Put on patience, bear with one another, and forgive as the Lord forgives you.
- Ephesians 4:1–3 – Practice humility, gentleness, and patience, maintaining unity in peace.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 – Love is patient and kind, and endures through difficulty.
- Psalm 37:7–9 – Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.
- Proverbs 14:29 – Being slow to anger shows understanding; haste of spirit leads to folly.
- Luke 21:19 – “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
- Romans 8:24–25 – Hope teaches us to wait patiently for what we do not yet see.