Patience is one of the great Bible virtues. It means waiting in hope and trust, even when it's hard. Patient people don't expect others to change to fit in with their wishes. They will understand when others aren't at their best – when they behave badly or are bad-tempered. They will wait for better days.
But patient people aren't weak; patience takes strength of character and endurance. Patient people are prepared to confront, but they will do it gently and lovingly.
Patience isn't a startling, spectacular gift. It can lead to people being overlooked or underestimated. But patient people are often loved and admired. Jesus was patient with his disciples; he's patient with all of us.
Here are 10 Bible verses about patience.
1. "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7).
2. "A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel" (Proverbs 15:18).
3. "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride" (Ecclesiastes 7:8).
4. "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:25).
5. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).
6. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Corinthians 13:4).
7. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).
8. "I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life" (1 Timothy 1:16).
9. "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains" (James 5:7).
10. "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation" (2 Peter 3:15).
