"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (longsuffering, forbearance)..." Galatians 5:22

In several Bibles that I checked, patience is fourth in the list of the Spirit's fruit. It follows right after the three blessings for which our hearts always yearn. Then immediately we are face to face with patience!
How many times have we each cried out, "Lord give me patience!"? This fruit can only be brought forth in and by the Holy Spirit. It is by the process of waiting and yielding through many circumstances, some even painful.

"The Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible", Herbert Lockyer, Sr., Editor; says of patience:
"There are two Greek words that are translated as patience:
makrothymia...generally expresses patience with regard to people. It is translated longsuffering...The second word, hypomone, generally expresses patience with regard to things. It may be described as the quality that enables a person to be patient in tribulation."
My "New King James Study Bible" says, "Patience--the ability to bear trials without grumbling; perseverance..."
Let's see what Scripture has to tell us concerning this greatly sought after quality.

First of all we look to the Trinity:
God, the author; Romans 15:5:
"Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Jesus Christ."

Christ, the example; 2 Thessalonians 3:5:
"Now may the Lord direct your hears into the love of God and into the patience of Christ."

Spirit, the source; Galatians 5:22:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (longsuffering)."

Scripture describes it as:
A product of a good heart: (as Jesus explains to the disciples the parable of the seeds falling in the ground, Luke 8:4-18) Vs 5 says, "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

A product of the testing of faith:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3

A product of hope:
"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Romans 8:25

A product of the Scriptures::
"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."  Romans 15:4

In waiting for Lord we see:
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry our their wicked schemes." Psalm 37:7

"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's Coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm."
James 5:7-8

The Lord, our example:
"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

In the Apostle Paul's prayer for the Colossians 1:9-12 he prays in Vs.11-12 that they be, "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."

There is so much in Scripture concerning patience, forbearance, endurance, longsuffering I hope these few verses will tempt you to do your own study.
And so, let us yield to the Source, the Example and the Supply for our developing patience and do so in the joy of the Lord.

Thank You Lord for the light of Your word:
"Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 Amen