DOES PATIENCE PAY? [THE CURRENCY OF PATIENCE]

When I was growing up, the most common phrase I heard from adults was that patience pays. Those who rushed into things were destined to fail. Patience was highly encouraged.

Definition: The Cambridge dictionary defines patience as the ability to wait or continue through difficult situations. So, one who suffers without complaining, without being annoyed or anxious, is patient. Being patient requires the ability to endure and be resilient.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, time is money, and people always seem to be in a hurry. Surrogacy is now more common than ever because busy schedules do not allow for nine-month pregnancies.

Even when the children are born, there is not enough time for them. They are practically raised by nannies, television, and social media. People no longer have the patience to raise families; careers come first. Even the carriers have a fast pace. Sometimes you miss work for two days due to circumstances beyond your control; you lose your job and are replaced.

This may come as a surprise to some, but it takes faith to have patience. In Biblical times, it was men and women who had great faith in God who had patience.

Extra-Ordinary Patience

Imagine patiently waiting on the Lord for years without complaining. Caleb waited forty-five years to receive the land that God had promised him (Joshua 14:9-14). He wondered in the wilderness with the children of Israel, believing and waiting for his time to inherit the land that God had promised him when he was forty years old. Caleb went to Joshua (who had succeeded Moses) at the age of eighty to claim his inheritance. He did indeed receive his inheritance.

It was not only Caleb who waited for more than forty years for an inheritance. The five daughters of Zolephehad claimed their inheritance after many years of wandering in the desert (Joshua 17:3-6). Throughout their journey with Moses until his death, the Bible makes no mention of the five daughters of Zolephehad or Caleb constantly reminding Moses of their future inheritance. They waited serenely until a time of certainty. At the right time, when land was being apportioned to the tribes of Israel was when they went to claim their promised portion.

The most challenging aspect of patience is uncertainty. Many people struggle to have faith and wait patiently.

The problem is that people expect quick answers. God is the greatest teacher of patience, and His methods are unique. I imagine that when the three angels from God visited Abraham and one of them promised him a son (Genesis 18-1-12) he expected one right away. Throughout his twenty-five years of waiting, he had to learn patience and trust in God. It was worth the wait. From his son of promise Isaac came forth Jacob, who bore the twelve tribes of Israel, who became a nation. So Abraham had countless descendants.

The period of waiting patiently is not an easy one. Through his visions, Joseph knew that he was meant for greatness. Before he entered into his greatness, Joseph went through a series of unfortunate events that were unbearable. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28), who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar (Genesis 39:1), one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard. Joseph became a trusted servant and was in charge of Potiphar's house. It seems like he had a good position and was happy until he was falsely accused of rape and put in prison. This man could not catch a break. I wonder if he still trusted in God and waited for God's promises in prison.

Of course, Joseph trusted God, and for thirteen years, he waited in prison for the fulfilment of God's promises. Joseph had to go through thirteen years of slavery and prison before he ascended to the highest position of being second only to Pharaoh. He was sold into slavery at the age of seventeen (Genesis 37:2) and ascended to the throne at the age of thirty (Genesis 41:46). The in-between years are the years when God was preparing him for his role as the one who would save his brothers and the whole world from dying of hunger during the seven years of famine.

Joseph had an extraordinary amount of patience. Even while imprisoned, his devotion to God shone brightly. Is this common among people, or do we complain and throw tantrums at God at the first sign of discomfort?

With all of this knowledge of how great men in the Bible demonstrated unwavering faith, I would caution everyone. You might end up patiently waiting and believing for something you will never receive. There are spiritual reasons why these men believed in God and waited patiently. They were standing and trusting in God's promises.

• Abraham waited patiently because the promise of a son came directly from angels (the promise originated from the spiritual realm).
• Joseph waited patiently because his promise came from his dreams (his promise came from the spiritual realm).
• Caleb waited for more than forty years because God guaranteed him an inheritance in the promised land (his promise came from the spiritual realm).

We can only exercise great endurance and patience in matters of the Lord. Be careful or you may end up wasting time because you will be patient outside of God's will, which is a waste of time.

If patience were a currency, it would undoubtedly buy more than gold. Abraham's patience helped him become the father of numerous nations. Joseph became the most powerful man in Egypt, even wearing Pharaoh's signet ring.