God has unlimited patience (16). Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. He is long-suffering. God keeps his cool. He doesn’t have a temper. Christ Jesus has extraordinary patience.
I remember the toddler years. Any parent of toddlers often meets their patience end. My children are extremely intelligent. Perhaps it is my circumstance that gives me the bias conclusion that intelligent toddlers can especially test their parent’s patience. Making rules for intelligent toddlers and expecting them not to defy them every once in a while is like expecting a spring without flowers and weeds.
Considering my limitations of patience helps me admire and appreciate God’s unlimited patience. I consider my past actions and attitudes and my Lord’s response, his ever-presence when I turn to him, his calming peace, and the warmth of my soul due to his gentle touch – yes, I have seen and still experience God’s unlimited patience.
Considering God’s response to Paul’s pre-Christ life as a blasphemer, a persecutor of the church, and a violent man beating and killing God’s chosen I learn of God’s long-suffering (13,16). So it is not hard for me to say and believe that there is always hope as long as I breathe to enter God’s limitless grace and mercy no matter who I am, nor how dark my soul may become, nor how many times I go to him for forgiveness.
