October 2026 – Elder’s Message

Learning Patience

Patience is easy to admire and hard to practice. We want answers to prayer, relief from trouble, and change in the people around us. When those things take longer than we hoped, waiting can feel like wasted time. Yet the Bible shows us that patience is part of how God shapes our hearts.

James 1:2–4 (NIV) teaches that trials test our faith and produce perseverance. That does not mean hardship is pleasant, or that we must pretend to enjoy it. It means God can work in us while we endure it. A delay may teach us to pray honestly, make wise choices, and keep trusting him one day at a time. Patience grows when we continue doing what is right, even before we can see what will happen.

Patience also affects how we treat others. Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) calls believers to be humble, gentle, and patient, bearing with one another in love. People disappoint us. They misunderstand what we say, repeat old mistakes, or move at a pace different from our own. In those moments, patience gives us room to listen before we react. We can speak truthfully and address a problem without giving anger control of our words. Remembering how often God has shown us mercy helps us extend mercy to someone else.

Finally, patience asks us to trust God’s timing. Psalm 27:14 (NIV) urges us to wait for the Lord and take heart. Waiting on God is active. We can pray, seek counsel, fulfill today’s responsibilities, and remain open to his direction. We may not know when a difficult season will end, but we can ask God for the strength to meet this day faithfully.

None of this makes patience effortless. Sometimes we will lose our temper or grow discouraged. When we do, we can admit it, ask forgiveness, and begin again. God’s work in us does not depend on a perfect record. Each ordinary choice to pause, listen, pray, or persevere is another opportunity to grow.

Patience is therefore more than the ability to wait. It is the choice to love people and trust God while we wait. As we practice it, we learn that our circumstances do not have to govern our conduct. God is present in the waiting, giving us courage for today and teaching us to hope for tomorrow.