Oh, Father, we come to you in Jesus’ name, and we just thank you and praise you. Holy Spirit, we invite you to teach us today. Father, we ask for your wisdom, and we embrace all that you have for us. Thank you for being here in our midst. Amen.
Woo! Hallelujah. I have to say our pastors are pretty awesome. I don’t even think they realize how awesome they are. It’s such a blessing to serve under people whose number one goal is to follow God and listen to His Spirit, no matter what.
Years ago, before I met Darla, I played in a Christian rock and roll band. Yep, spandex and all. You have to remember, it was the late 80s and early 90s. We weren’t very good, but we sure thought we were.
If you’re curious, I think Mickey even found some of our old music online once. It’s still floating around out there if you’re brave enough to look.
During that time, right after college, I lived in a little bachelor apartment. The band guys would come over, and we’d play games on the original NES.
One day, my dad knocked on the door and said, “Hey, I’ve got this guy who needs a place to stay for a little while.” He introduced me to a young street preacher from Alabama.
His name was Mikey—or at least that’s what he said. But with his Alabama accent, it came out as “Mackey,” and that’s what we all started calling him. Mackey was completely sold out for Jesus. He’d preach to anyone, anywhere. He didn’t hesitate to talk about the Lord.
He stayed with us for a while, and we learned a lot from him. Every night, right when we’d be deep into our video games, Mackey would say, “All right, guys. Time to pray.” We’d groan, “Mackey, we don’t want to pray right now.” But he’d say, “Come on. The Spirit has something to say.”
He’d have us sit in silence—just waiting. I didn’t understand it at the time, but he was teaching us patience. He was waiting for our minds to settle, for our flesh to quiet down, so we could actually hear from the Holy Spirit.
Once we reached that still place, Mackey would simply say, “All right.” And we’d start praying. And let me tell you, things broke loose when we did.
What Mackey was teaching us stuck with me. Patience isn’t just a personality trait—it’s part of God’s very character. Romans 2:4 (Amplified) says,
“Or are you so blind as to trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and longsuffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant of the fact that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will?”
Patience is often treated like a punchline in Christian circles: “Don’t ask for patience, or God will give you something to be patient about.” But that’s not the right way to look at it.
If patience is part of how God operates, then we should want as much of it as we can get. And yes, it’s true that if you ask for patience, He’ll give you opportunities to practice it, but that’s how growth happens.
Patience applies to every area of life. Sometimes people help you find out just how much of it you have. But patience really gets tested when you have to wait on God.
Maybe you feel like you’re stuck in one place. In your early walk with Jesus, it seemed like you hit new levels every day. Then it became every week, then every month—and now it feels like you’re not getting anywhere.
But you are. Growth just looks slower than it feels.
God uses patience to strengthen us for what’s next. If you plant something that grows too fast, it’ll be weak and unstable. The same is true spiritually. You need time to develop strong roots.
Colossians 1:10–11 (Amplified) says:
“That you may walk, live, and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God… We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory to exercise every kind of endurance and patience, perseverance, and forbearance with joy.”
Patience comes with power, endurance, and joy. It’s not a punishment, it’s preparation.
If patience is a fruit of the Spirit, then impatience is rotten fruit. You know that smell in your kitchen when you can’t figure out what’s gone bad? Then you find the slimy, stinky potato at the bottom of the bin. That’s what impatience is, it’s selfish and spoiled.
Impatience says, “I’m more mature than you. You’re slowing me down.” It exalts self over others. But patience humbles us. Without it, you can’t fully accomplish the will of God in your life.
Hebrews 10:35–36 (Amplified) says,
“Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised.”
That means when you stay in patience, you get to carry away what was promised. Healing. Provision. A good marriage. For some of you, a spouse. Maybe even a child. Whatever God has promised, patience allows you to enjoy it in full.
Patience isn’t just about waiting on God—it’s about living with people. I’ve learned that my patience is tested more by people than anything else. Then I remember how many people’s patience I’ve tested—my mom, my wife, probably half this church.
After 34 years of marriage, I can tell you this: if your spouse is testing your patience, it’s probably you. Most of the time when I get frustrated with Darla, it’s the Holy Spirit showing me where I’m missing it.
When I humble myself and ask Him to correct me, things turn around quickly. That’s free advice from a man who’s learned it the hard way.
Colossians 3:12 (Amplified) says,
“Clothe yourselves, therefore, as God’s own chosen ones… by putting on behavior marked by tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and patience which is tireless and long-suffering and has the power to endure whatever comes—with good temper.”
Patience isn’t weakness—it’s power under control. It gives you strength to endure whatever comes, and to do it with a good attitude. That’s exactly how God treats us. He’s patient as we grow into who He’s called us to be.
When I started studying patience, I didn’t think it was that big a deal. But then I realized it’s pivotal. Faith and patience go hand in hand.
If God says you have something but you haven’t seen it yet, patience carries you until it comes to pass. If you received healing, provision, or a promise for your family but don’t see it yet, patience is what holds the door open for that miracle to arrive.
James 1:3–4 (Amplified) says:
“Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be people perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking in nothing.”
If you ever feel lost or confused, James 1:5 says,
“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the living God, who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly without reproaching or fault-finding, and it will be given to you.”
So ask in faith. Strap on patience. And trust that God’s promise will come through.
What if Noah had no patience? What if Abraham gave up halfway? They had faith, but patience is what saw them through.
And remember 1 Corinthians 13 says, “Love is patient.” That means patience connects faith and love together. It’s what keeps us standing strong. Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the full armor of God and stand firm. Once you’ve done all you can, keep standing. That’s patience in action.
So if you’re waiting for a child, or a spouse, or a breakthrough in your family—hold steady. God’s not late. He’s building strength in you for the promise He’s already declared.
Father, we ask for wisdom, and we receive it. Continue to build our patience so we can wield love and faith the way You designed. Thank You for the spouses, the family members, the finances, and the promises that are on the way.
Grow our faith, our love, and our patience.
