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What is easy to lose, but hard to find? Something that everyone wants, but not everyone will use? The answer is patience. In this short bible study, we will read scripture to determine what it means, how we develop it, and when we should be using it. As always, begin with prayer, asking God to open your heart and mind to see what He wants you to learn.

WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE PATIENT

God tells us to be patient, and this is written throughout Scripture many times. To help us learn that patience is a characteristic that God wants us to have, let’s read some scripture!
Read the three verses that are listed below, then match each verse with the correct content from the verse.

VERSE	BE PATIENT
Psalm 37:7	You also be patient
I Thessalonians 5:14	Wait patiently for Him
James 5:8	Be patient with all

>My Thoughts                                                    

James 5:8 – You also be patient  
Psalm 37:7 – Wait patiently for Him 
I Thessalonians 5:14 – Be patient with all   

PATIENCE, WHAT IS IT?

How would you describe patience? Do you think it differs very much from how God would describe it? The following verses are examples, in scripture, of showing patience. Read the following verses and give a short description of what patience looks like according to that verse.

2 Timothy 2:24

James 5:7

Psalms 40:1

Put all of your descriptions into one sentence.

>My Thoughts                                                    

2 Timothy 2:24 – Patience involves being gentle and not quarrelsome. Having a calm spirit.  
James 5:7– Waiting for something in a way that is not trying to rush it, or make it happen prematurely.
Psalms 40:1 – Waiting for an answer, or waiting to hear from someone in a way that encourages them to want to interact with you.

Put all of your descriptions together in one sentence. – Having a calm spirit during difficult situations, while you’re waiting, and not rushing.

HOW DO WE DEVELOP PATIENCE?

Patience isn’t automatic, it is developed over time. Scripture tells us this. James 1:2-4 is one place in Scripture that speaks of this.  

 Read James 1:2-4

Write out James 1:3

In your own words, explain how we can increase our patience.

>My Thoughts                                                    

Write out James 1:3 – Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
In your own words, explain how we can increase our patience. – We can increase our patience by going through trials. Experiencing difficulties will give us the opportunity to show patience. Eventually, patience will become natural if we take the time to remember to use it.

WHEN TO SHOW PATIENCE?

We probably have many opportunities, every single day, to use patience. Scripture contains examples of being patient, three of which are contained in the verses listed below.

Read the verse, then describe when that particular verse says we need to use patience.

I Peter 2:20

James 5:7

Romans 12:12

When are some other times that we should be showing patience?

>My Thoughts                                                    

I Peter 2:20 – We need to be patient when we are being punished for our wrong decisions. Also, we need to show patience when we are punished or suffer wrongly.
James 5:7 – We need to be patient when we are waiting.
Romans 12:12 – We need to be patient while we are experiencing tribulations.

List specific situations, or other experiences in which we need to have patience? – We need patience in the midst of trials and tribulations. I know this was already mentioned, but it’s worth mentioning again because we need to have patience even when we are going through the worst possible situation.

Some everyday situations which we need to exercise patience is when we are raising children, family tensions, driving, while having conversations (good or bad), teaching/coaching, helping others and when we are serving God.

CLOSING VERSE

We are going to close this study with the following quote from Scripture. As you read it, think about how much patience God shows us on a daily basis.  

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures that might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”    Romans 15:4-6 NKJV

How much patience does God show you daily?

What can you do to remember that you need to extend patience on a regular basis?

>My Thoughts                                                    

How much patience does God show you daily? Why? – So much! Some days are worse than others. I can get irritated if someone takes to do something, or while having conversations. I can lose my patience very quickly sometimes, not with others, but with myself. God is very merciful!

 What can you do to remember that you need to extend patience on a regular basis? – I need to ask God to help me when I lose my patience. Eventually, I will recognize that I am losing my patience BEFORE it happens, and I can then pray that God will increase my patience so I can have the correct reaction

We hope you search our website, Christian Fellowshipping, for more encouraging ways to fellowship with God and other believers. To learn about salvation and what it means, read What is Salvation and God’s Promise of Salvation, it will guide you through this with scripture. If you are new to the Christian faith, please visit My Bookshelf. You will find free eBooks that will help you on this new journey.

This bible study is based off of how the NKJV reads. Any scripture quoted in this study is taken from the NKJV bible.