“Pride impatiently demands, while humility lovingly defers to the Lord’s timing.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 8, 2025
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience. Galatians 5:22
The fruit of the Spirit is patience, but the fruit of the self is impatience. Impatience is often tied to entitlement, as if saying, “I need it and I need it now.” But if I am honest and wise, I will quickly review the Bible and remind myself that impatience caused Adam and Eve to be evicted from the garden, fueled Moses’ anger, and prevented him from entering the Promised Land. Additionally, the desire to have what belongs to others is shown in the sad story of Jacob and Esau’s birthright saga, as well as the prodigal son’s impatient ultimatum, which disrespected his father by demanding his inheritance before he was ready to handle it. Impatience misses out.
Patience, on the other hand, generously gives. It gives space for peace to grow in a tense situation. It curbs the desire to have it right now, out of fear of missing out. Love is patient, so love becomes the motivation for living, by putting another’s interests before our own and trusting that God will fill in the gaps. And we can be at ease knowing that patience is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, so we surrender to the fullness of the Spirit, and He does His patient work in the depths of our being. Impatience takes away, while patience gives abundant grace.
Here’s a recurring test: when you don’t get your way, how will you respond? When stuck in traffic, you can rage at other drivers or use the time for prayer and reflection. When your restaurant order is wrong, you can berate the server or show grace while they fix it. When your spouse disagrees with your ideas and plans, you can insist on your way or seek a compromise. When your boss passes you over for a promotion, you can harbor resentment or trust God’s timing while working well. Each disappointment is a choice: will impatience steal your peace, or will patience show Christ’s character through you? Patience is a loving relational lubricant.
Another opportunity to practice patience in a healthy way is through a long-term goal that requires time for preparation and planning, along with your ability to handle what you want and trust in God’s timing so that He receives the glory. Preparation: For example, a couple dreams of owning a home but chooses to spend two years paying off debt and improving their credit score instead of rushing into a mortgage they can’t afford. Their patience helps them build a solid financial foundation. Capacity Building: An aspiring entrepreneur works in their industry for five years, learning about operations and building relationships before launching their business. The wait builds competence that increases their chances of success. Divine Timing: A young woman feels called to missions but patiently completes nursing school first, trusting God’s timing. When she finally serves overseas, her medical skills amplify her ministry impact in ways an immediate departure couldn’t. With patience, you trust and pray over your big dreams.
Most of all, invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with patient love. Patient love isn’t something you produce through willpower—it’s supernatural fruit that grows when you surrender to the Spirit’s work. Start each day by asking Him to fill your heart with His patience. When frustration rises, silently pray: “Spirit, love through me.” His patient love flows through your surrendered heart, transforming ordinary moments into opportunities for grace that reflect Christ’s character to a watching world. Pride impatiently demands, while humility lovingly defers to the Lord’s timing.
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:25).
Prayer
Lord, teach me to wait on You with a quiet heart. Still my impatience, strengthen my trust, and help me rest in Your perfect timing and faithful promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Who or what are you facing that requires your patient love?
Related Reading
Psalms 37:7-8; Proverbs 14:29; Ecclesiastes 7:8-9; James 1:19-20
Worship Resource
Lauren Daigle: Thank God I Do
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