I used to believe I was a pretty patient person, especially with kids. But then I worked as a camp counselor for a summer during college, and I realized I wasn’t nearly as patient as I thought!
We know “patience is a virtue,” but we must remember that God’s patience, like the rest of His attributes, is not just greater than ours but transcends any ability we have to be patient with others. God’s love and goodness take the form of patience as He meets sinful people right where we are.
Peter points out above that “our Lord’s patience means salvation.” What good news that is! He bears with us in grace, mercy, love, and righteousness. Paul understood his life and ministry as an apostle to be a testimony of the grace of God towards sinners (1 Timothy 1:16).
Regardless of your story and the sin in your life, Jesus is patient with you. He’s not like we are with each other, displaying our impatience and exasperation. In His unlimited patience and rich kindness, He graciously brings us to repentance (Romans 2:4).