GARMENT 5: PATIENCE

THE GRIT OF PATIENCE

We want results. Progress. Movement. Now. But under the drive, we often run hot — restless, irritated when people or plans lag behind.

That’s why we need this fifth garment: patience. It’s strength to trust God’s pace and grace when others don’t move, respond, or care as we expect.

Patience shows up in traffic, team meetings, unanswered texts, and prayers that seem unheard. It’s more than waiting — it’s staying anchored when you’re not in control, trusting the One who is.

PATIENCE AT WORK

Patience at work is rare — and powerful. It shows up when:

• You pray first, even when your experience could “just get it done”
• You wait for clarity and peace instead of forcing action
• You choose what’s right over what’s convenient or quick
• You invest in someone who’s struggling, instead of cutting ties too soon
• You leave room for compassion to reveal what’s really going on

Patience doesn’t kill productivity — it refines it. God gets more done through surrendered men than hurried ones.

“Hurry is the enemy of love and the assassin of wisdom.”
— Anonymous

PERSPECTIVES ON PATIENCE

Let’s be clear: Paul wasn’t just telling us to slow down in Colossians 3:12. Patience is a posture. A mindset. A spiritual grip that stays steady in pressure and delay.

Here are five lenses from trusted voices that help us see what it really means to put on patience:

1. John Mark Comer — Patience is Submission to God’s Pace. Comer reminds us that most of our impatience isn’t about the task — it’s about control. We want outcomes now because we think our timing is best. But patience is slowing your pace to match God’s. Not pushing past Him.
2. Eugene Peterson — Patience is Long Obedience. Faithfulness is forged in rhythm, not adrenaline. Peterson called patience a long obedience in the same direction. That’s spiritual manhood––not quitting when it's hard or when you don’t see instant applause.
3. Tim Keller — Patience is Trust in God’s Wisdom. Keller teaches that God may delay answers not because He’s unwilling, but because He’s wise. There may be a bigger story in play. A truly patient man doesn’t just wait — he trusts.
4. Andrew Murray — Patience is Surrender. Before anything even stalls, the humble man releases control. He isn’t surprised by setbacks — he’s already surrendered the outcome.
5. Dallas Willard — Patience is Trained Composure. Willard believed patience is the fruit of a soul rooted in God. It’s not “gritting your teeth” but a kind of anchored peace. You’ve trained your heart to stay steady, even when others spin out.
6. Craig Groeschel — The Impact Equation. Then Craig Groeschel ties it all together with this formula: (CONSISTENCY + FAITHFULNESS) × TIME = LASTING IMPACT

• Consistency mirrors Willard’s discipline.
• Faithfulness reflects Peterson’s long obedience.
• Time assumes trust in God’s wisdom and timing (Comer, Keller, Murray).

If you're aiming for real, lasting impact, patience isn't optional. It's the multiplier.

PATIENCE AND THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

Most guys think patience just means waiting for things to change. But if you only look ahead, you’ll miss what’s already good.

Gratitude is what re-wires the soul in the waiting. It’s like generosity — if you won’t give now, you won’t give later. Gratitude works the same way: if you won’t thank God now, you’ll stay empty even when you get what you wanted.

A patient man doesn’t obsess over what’s missing. He thanks God for what is — and trains his soul to receive what’s next without entitlement, envy, or hurry.

“Contentment is the soil where patience grows.”
— not a quote, but it could be.

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS

1. What tends to trigger your irritation when things move more slowly than you’d like?
2. Who around you needs more grace than judgment from you this week?
3. Where are you trying to control outcomes instead of surrendering them to God, seeking His wisdom, and trusting His timing?
4. What can you genuinely thank God for in your current situation — even if it’s not what you hoped for yet?

PRAYER

Father, I want to move when You move — not before. Teach me to wait with peace, to walk with trust, and to work with faithfulness. I surrender my calendar, my expectations, and my need for speed. And I thank You now for what I don’t yet see. You are good, even in the slow work.

ACTION STEP

Before you jump into today’s to-do list, stop. Pray. Ask God what He wants you to know about the things on your calendar. Don’t start with tasks. Start with trust. “Seek first the Kingdom of God…” (Matthew 6:33)

PATIENCE
The quiet strength to stay steady when nothing’s moving—and the faith to believe that God is.

Did you like this study? For tools, training or support on your discipleship journey, or to engage with a local community of other disciple-makers, visit cbmc.online