Time for confession. I recently spent hours on hold with a government agency, trying to get information and resources that could help my mom with her medical bills. I sent the proper paperwork a month ago to act on my mother’s behalf. I had tried calling and emailing to reach an agent several times without success, which left me frustrated with the lack of response before the call even started. When I finally connected with an agent, I calmly explained my mom’s case and asked for help, only to be denied again because the paperwork “wasn’t on file.”
It was at this moment of frustration—having done everything I knew to provide the required paperwork and still being refused— that I lost my patience. Calmness gave way to a verbal tirade of anger and frustration over how difficult they were making it to simply help my mother. My heated words did nothing to improve the situation and, frankly, prompted the agent to respond with a dismissive remark of his own. I immediately regretted my words and frustration when we disconnected. Having a harmonious temperament and communication style, I usually pride myself on exhibiting a good deal of patience with people, but circumstances got the better of me in that weak moment, and I had to repent.
How many of us experience one of these moments of frustration that tips us to a point of snapping? It can happen so quickly, so easily. A frustration with a child, a spouse, a parent, or a car that cuts us off. That’s why we will take some time this month to explore the fruit of patience and how to grow in it so that we can make different, more godly choices in these moments.
In the New Testament, two Greek words reveal the depth of this fruit of the Spirit: makrothumia and hupomonē. Understanding these terms helps us see patience not as a personality trait but as a powerful spiritual practice. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will cultivate both patience with people and patience under pressure.
Let’s face it. We live in an “I-want-it-now” world in which the attributes of patience are not highly valued. Waiting feels like weakness, and patience is often misunderstood as passivity. But Scripture paints a much richer picture. Biblical patience isn’t about simply putting up with delays or putting up with people—it’s about endurance, strength, compassion, and hope rooted in God’s promises. Let’s dive in!
In the New Testament, there are two Greek words used that mean patience, each with its own connotation. Makrothumia literally means “long-tempered.” It’s the opposite of having a short fuse. This word describes the kind of patience we need in relationships—self-restraint when provoked, mercy when wronged, and forgiveness when offended. Makrothumia is best viewed as a wise patience because it takes a great deal of wisdom and discernment to navigate relationships with others.
Makrothumia shows up most clearly in God’s character. He is “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6), holding back wrath to give us time to repent. Without this divine patience, none of us would know salvation.
👣Practical step: Next time someone irritates or offends you, pause before reacting. Ask yourself: How has God been patient with me? Then extend that same patience outward.
While makrothumia often focuses on people, another Greek word, hupomonē, deals more with patience in circumstances. It literally means “to remain under” with hopeful endurance. It’s not passive waiting—it’s courageous perseverance under pressure. It’s having a heart of expectancy while you’re enduring trials and suffering, knowing that God is good.
👣 Practical step: When facing hardship, don’t just grit your teeth until it passes. Anchor yourself in Scripture, pray for strength, and remind yourself of the eternal perspective: this trial is temporary, but its fruit is lasting. Ask yourself: What is God teaching me through this experience?
Biblical patience is not weakness—it’s spiritual strength.
Together, these two powerful Greek words shape us into Christ’s likeness, making us long-tempered, steadfast, and full of expectation that God will do what He promised.
Patience is not just a virtue—it’s a victory.
As we grow in it, we reflect the heart of a God who waits for us in love and carries us through every trial.
🤔Reflection questions for this week:
Coming Up: We will spend the next few weeks exploring these two Greek concepts in more depth, so we may grow in patience with people, in times of waiting, and during trials. 🙏🏼
Do you want to learn how to walk in freedom and cultivate this kind of enduring patience?
Check back weekly in September to learn more about the fruit of patience! Explore additional thought-provoking posts on our Fruits of Faith Blog and consider joining our BibleSpot S.T.A.R.s Discipleship Program, a 90-day intensive study and coaching program beginning in January 2026. We hope to be an encouraging part of your spiritual journey!
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Dennis Harrell says:
I have frequently had a very difficult time being patient with those who resist my opinion and experience in certain areas and dismiss it too easily. Inner healing deliverance is something I lack from my resistance to change. This ministry has been very beneficial to me, but I present a difficult, sometimes impossible subject to change. My fault not theirs.