This may be one of the most well-known Bible verses about patience because it is so visual, “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Let’s start taking this verse apart because there is some really good news for those who choose to wait on the Lord.
Bible Verses About Patience
2016–I wrote that a couple of weeks ago. This post on Bible Verses About Patience has been sitting in my draft folder waiting to be finished…or so I thought. Now I think it’s been sitting there waiting to be understood and applied. These past 10 days have been a gut punch surprise. 10 days ago we started a Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes and at the last minute, I threw in another intention. Later that night things broke wide open. Coincidence? Not! So now what? It’s not my story to tell even though it affects me, everyone and everything around me. So now I wait. I wait for the Lord. I wait for a renewal of strength. I quit speaking death, “I’m weary, I’m faint.” More importantly, I speak those words over, for, and to a loved one.
All those years ago, those incredibly hard lessons I had to learn about speaking life into myself…they weren’t just for me. I thought part of why I went through all that was for you all, anyone who reads here and has nodded, let the first tear fall or emailed me in painful agreement. Now I know it wasn’t just for me or you. Honestly, I may never know who all it was for. Will you please pray with me? The Lord knows what’s going on, trust me.
2018–Wow! Looking back at this post about Bible verses on patience now, I have no idea what surprise the enemy thought he could wipe us out with at that time, but here we are. Not only “here we are” but I honestly don’t even remember what had happened when I wrote the above. God is so good y’all. He is so good. What was obviously meant for our destruction is now not even a part of our recollection.
In the last year(ish) I’ve gotten in this habit when reading my Bible. As I’m reading, I try to pay close attention to three things: a command, a promise or an affirmation. I love the promises of this Bible verse on patience. There are actually four promises in this Bible verse for patience.
1. we will renew our strength
2. we will mount up with wings like eagles
3. we will run and not be weary
4. we shall walk and not be faint
I know so many of us need to hear those promises. Wait, even better. So many of us need to BELIEVE those promises. So how do we believe the promises contained in that Bible verse on patience? We read our Bible.
The more we read our Bible, the more familiar we become with Who God is and how He operates. The more we know about God and His character, the more we can begin to trust Him, especially with those hard parts of ourselves, those rough edges, and especially those worn and weary places. And the more we trust God the more we lean into His time. We stop trying to control everything. We allow our timeline to slowly slip away so we can make room for God’s timing. We become more patient because we learn, it’s not up to us. And then, we’re thankful it’s not up to us!
Think of all the situations and decisions in your life you’ve tried to control and rush. How many of those are you glad didn’t go as you planned but followed God’s perfect timing? I have a lot I can think of and I’m sure more that I cannot even recall!!
Here’s one of the biggest misconceptions about being patient–we think patience means just sitting around for God to pull the puppet strings of life, our life. False. Patience is actively working with God in trust and prayer. Patience is a stretching of our faith and anyone can tell you, stretching is not passive.
Bible quotes about patience could easily be called Bible quotes about courage because actively stretching our faith, purposefully leaning into God’s will, in God’s time…well, that takes courage, divine courage my friend.
I have a couple of related Bible Verses About Patience posts you might be interested in:
Bible Verse About Patience: 2 Timothy 2
Bible Quotes: Courage in the Bible
clarefcj says
Thanks for this post Jenny. There are days when I am able to pause and ask for patience when I need it – and there are days when I don’t manage and am lacking in patience and compassion! I like this reminder to grow with God and grow in patience.
Lynn says
Jenny I read your post today. I’m in a struggle and tired not sleeping anxiety. I’ve lost all my spirit I hope you will pray for me I have been bible journaling an reading a lot thank you
Jenny says
Girl prayers upon prayers. Keep on….moving forward…eyes on Him and the rest will eventually get tired of bother you because you will become unbotherable!
Lynn says
Thanks I pray everyday all thru the day until I go to bed you send out slot of inspiration
Claudia says
You are in my prayers also Lynn
Lynn says
Thank you I am struggling an I pray all thru the day
Cindy says
Jenny, I am joining you in prayer. God knows. God has it. I ask for strength and discernment for those who need it. Holy Spirit, come be in the middle. Amen.
Jenny says
Thank you Cindy. I have held onto the prayers of others when I have struggled with my own.