Known By Patience
(The Slow Work of Grace: Trusting God's Timing)
Luke 13:1-9; Isaiah 55:1-9
Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Patience as a Virtue
We are deep into the season of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal. Lent itself is a season of patience—40 days of waiting, preparing, and walking with Jesus toward the cross and resurrection. And this Lent, we’re exploring the fruits of the spirit by asking the question, “How Will they know?” How will they know God’s love? How will they know we’re followers of Jesus? How will they know the difference between culturally Christian religious performers, and faith-filled disciples of Christ?
We’ve talked about self control, about peace, and about faithfulness. And today we’re looking at patience, as a fruit of the spirit.
Patience is often misunderstood as passive waiting, like watching a clock tick seconds by at the end of a work shift, or near the end of a school day. But in reality, patience is an active virtue—one that requires faith, and endurance. The Bible presents patience as more than just tolerating delays; it is a mark of spiritual maturity and trust in God's timing.
Think about the inconvenience of road construction. Sure it slows down your commute, or delays your arrival. But it’s also active in repairing, or improving the driving conditions longer term. A minor inconvenience becomes an important lesson in patience, akin to the cliché, good things come to those who wait.
Proverbs 14:29 reminds us: "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."
This wisdom cuts deep. When we are impatient—with others, with ourselves, with situations beyond our control like road construction, or even with God—we can make rash – even foolish decisions. But patience – if approached with openness – can lead to understanding, wisdom, and even a deeper faith and trust in God.
Tertullian, an early Christian writer, put it this way: "Hope is patience with the lamp lit."
In other words, patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about waiting with expectation, trusting that God is still at work. It’s waiting with purpose.
Today, we reflect on patience as a fruit of the Spirit—not just waiting idly but trusting in God’s timing. Where in your life do you need to slow down and trust that God is still at work?
The Fig Tree: A Second Chance for Growth (Luke 13:1-9)
Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that hasn’t borne fruit. The owner of the vineyard is frustrated—for three years, he’s been checking, and still, nothing. He’s ready to cut it down.
But the gardener steps in and says, “Give it one more year. Let me dig around it, fertilize it, and nurture it.”
This is a story of God’s patience. The vineyard owner represents human impatience—we want results now. But the gardener, like Jesus, reminds us that God’s grace allows for growth and second chances.
Illustration: The Oak Tree vs. Weeds
Think about how different plants grow. Weeds shoot up overnight, but an oak tree takes decades to mature. Yet the oak’s roots go deep, and its strength lasts for generations.
Faith works the same way. A quick, shallow commitment doesn’t last. Real spiritual growth requires time, care, and patience—from God and from us.
Where in your life do you feel like a fruitless tree? Maybe your prayers feel unanswered, or you’re struggling with habits you can’t seem to break. Take heart—God is still working. You’re not done growing yet.
God’s Timing is Not Our Timing (Isaiah 55:1-9)
Isaiah 55 reminds us:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
How often do we try to force God’s timing? We pray and expect immediate answers. We want spiritual breakthroughs now. But God operates on a different schedule.
Illustration: The Farmer’s Patience
A farmer plants seeds in faith—knowing he won’t see results immediately. He doesn’t dig up the seed every day to check if it’s growing. Instead, he trusts the process.
God’s work in us is like that. Just because we don’t see progress doesn’t mean growth isn’t happening beneath the surface.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and martyr, once wrote: "We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God."
That’s the challenge, isn’t it? We make plans, we set timelines, but then God interrupts us with His own, better plan. What if our delays are actually God’s way of redirecting us toward something greater?
Where in your life do you need to release control and trust that God’s timing is better than your own?
Patience is an Expression of Love
Patience isn’t just about waiting; it’s about how we wait. Do we wait with faith or with frustration? Do we show grace to others as they grow, or do we expect instant change?
In Our Relationships
We get impatient when people don’t change as fast as we want—our spouse, our kids, our friends. We say, “Why can’t they just get it together?” But patience means loving people in their process—the way God loves us.
Illustration: Parenting as a Model of Patience
Think about a child learning to walk. They stumble, fall, and struggle. A loving parent doesn’t get angry when a child falls. Instead, they encourage, nurture, and guide them.
That’s exactly how God treats us. God doesn’t give up on us just because we stumble. And if God is that patient with us, shouldn’t we be patient with others?
In Our Spiritual Lives
Sometimes our greatest impatience is with ourselves. We want to be more faithful, more prayerful, more disciplined—but we fall short.
But remember this: Jesus never rushed people into transformation. He walked with them, allowing space for growth.
Impatience blinds us—we miss God’s work in ourselves and others. But patience opens our eyes to see the slow, beautiful unfolding of grace.
Patience is God’s love in action. When we live patiently, people see God's love through us.
Trusting the Slow Work of Grace
So, where do you need to trust God’s process today?
Just as the gardener fights for the fig tree, Jesus intercedes for us. Just as the farmer waits for the harvest, God is faithful to complete the work in us.
How will they know God’s love? How will they know we follow Jesus? How will they know – let them know by our patience.
So this week, let’s practice patience:
Amen.
(The Slow Work of Grace: Trusting God's Timing)
Luke 13:1-9; Isaiah 55:1-9
Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Patience as a Virtue
We are deep into the season of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal. Lent itself is a season of patience—40 days of waiting, preparing, and walking with Jesus toward the cross and resurrection. And this Lent, we’re exploring the fruits of the spirit by asking the question, “How Will they know?” How will they know God’s love? How will they know we’re followers of Jesus? How will they know the difference between culturally Christian religious performers, and faith-filled disciples of Christ?
We’ve talked about self control, about peace, and about faithfulness. And today we’re looking at patience, as a fruit of the spirit.
Patience is often misunderstood as passive waiting, like watching a clock tick seconds by at the end of a work shift, or near the end of a school day. But in reality, patience is an active virtue—one that requires faith, and endurance. The Bible presents patience as more than just tolerating delays; it is a mark of spiritual maturity and trust in God's timing.
Think about the inconvenience of road construction. Sure it slows down your commute, or delays your arrival. But it’s also active in repairing, or improving the driving conditions longer term. A minor inconvenience becomes an important lesson in patience, akin to the cliché, good things come to those who wait.
Proverbs 14:29 reminds us: "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."
This wisdom cuts deep. When we are impatient—with others, with ourselves, with situations beyond our control like road construction, or even with God—we can make rash – even foolish decisions. But patience – if approached with openness – can lead to understanding, wisdom, and even a deeper faith and trust in God.
Tertullian, an early Christian writer, put it this way: "Hope is patience with the lamp lit."
In other words, patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about waiting with expectation, trusting that God is still at work. It’s waiting with purpose.
Today, we reflect on patience as a fruit of the Spirit—not just waiting idly but trusting in God’s timing. Where in your life do you need to slow down and trust that God is still at work?
The Fig Tree: A Second Chance for Growth (Luke 13:1-9)
Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that hasn’t borne fruit. The owner of the vineyard is frustrated—for three years, he’s been checking, and still, nothing. He’s ready to cut it down.
But the gardener steps in and says, “Give it one more year. Let me dig around it, fertilize it, and nurture it.”
This is a story of God’s patience. The vineyard owner represents human impatience—we want results now. But the gardener, like Jesus, reminds us that God’s grace allows for growth and second chances.
Illustration: The Oak Tree vs. Weeds
Think about how different plants grow. Weeds shoot up overnight, but an oak tree takes decades to mature. Yet the oak’s roots go deep, and its strength lasts for generations.
Faith works the same way. A quick, shallow commitment doesn’t last. Real spiritual growth requires time, care, and patience—from God and from us.
Where in your life do you feel like a fruitless tree? Maybe your prayers feel unanswered, or you’re struggling with habits you can’t seem to break. Take heart—God is still working. You’re not done growing yet.
God’s Timing is Not Our Timing (Isaiah 55:1-9)
Isaiah 55 reminds us:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
How often do we try to force God’s timing? We pray and expect immediate answers. We want spiritual breakthroughs now. But God operates on a different schedule.
Illustration: The Farmer’s Patience
A farmer plants seeds in faith—knowing he won’t see results immediately. He doesn’t dig up the seed every day to check if it’s growing. Instead, he trusts the process.
God’s work in us is like that. Just because we don’t see progress doesn’t mean growth isn’t happening beneath the surface.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and martyr, once wrote: "We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God."
That’s the challenge, isn’t it? We make plans, we set timelines, but then God interrupts us with His own, better plan. What if our delays are actually God’s way of redirecting us toward something greater?
Where in your life do you need to release control and trust that God’s timing is better than your own?
Patience is an Expression of Love
Patience isn’t just about waiting; it’s about how we wait. Do we wait with faith or with frustration? Do we show grace to others as they grow, or do we expect instant change?
In Our Relationships
We get impatient when people don’t change as fast as we want—our spouse, our kids, our friends. We say, “Why can’t they just get it together?” But patience means loving people in their process—the way God loves us.
Illustration: Parenting as a Model of Patience
Think about a child learning to walk. They stumble, fall, and struggle. A loving parent doesn’t get angry when a child falls. Instead, they encourage, nurture, and guide them.
That’s exactly how God treats us. God doesn’t give up on us just because we stumble. And if God is that patient with us, shouldn’t we be patient with others?
In Our Spiritual Lives
Sometimes our greatest impatience is with ourselves. We want to be more faithful, more prayerful, more disciplined—but we fall short.
But remember this: Jesus never rushed people into transformation. He walked with them, allowing space for growth.
- Peter denied Jesus three times, but Jesus patiently restored him.
- Paul persecuted Christians, but God’s patience turned him into an apostle.
- Even on the cross, Jesus showed patience—praying for those who crucified him.
Impatience blinds us—we miss God’s work in ourselves and others. But patience opens our eyes to see the slow, beautiful unfolding of grace.
Patience is God’s love in action. When we live patiently, people see God's love through us.
Trusting the Slow Work of Grace
So, where do you need to trust God’s process today?
- Maybe there’s a prayer you’ve been praying for a long time, and you’re tempted to give up.
- Maybe someone in your life is taking longer to change than you’d like.
- Maybe you are struggling with the slow work of growth.
Just as the gardener fights for the fig tree, Jesus intercedes for us. Just as the farmer waits for the harvest, God is faithful to complete the work in us.
How will they know God’s love? How will they know we follow Jesus? How will they know – let them know by our patience.
So this week, let’s practice patience:
- With God—trusting holy timing.
- With others—offering grace instead of frustration.
- With ourselves—allowing time, and room for growth.
Amen.
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