Funny what you remember.  Years and years, and yes years ago a Sunday school teacher said never pray for patience.  This I remembered.  She said when you pray for patience God teaches you by placing trails in your life.

Yet Jesus commanded us to love and part of that love according to Paul is a Greek word makrothymeō.   

Strong’s Blue Letter Bible http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3114&t=KJV   states this word can have the following meanings:

to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart; to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be long-suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish

Jesus is patient with us; he endured misfortune and troubles for us.  Jesus told us to love others as He loved us.  We must learn to be people of patience.

I think of Peter when I think of Jesus showing patience.  I love Peter because he so often got it wrong but Jesus never gave up on him.

Look at the incident of Peter walking on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

There is Peter walking on the water yet he gets afraid and starts sinking.  But Jesus doesn’t just let him sink or say fine swim for it.  No he stretched out his hand and caught him.

Again with Peter, look at how even though he claimed he would never betray Christ; on the night when Jesus is taken, Peter denies him three times. I think I would be inclined to give up on Peter. I would feel betrayed.  I would be angry.  I would feel justified and all righteous in my frustration with Peter.  I know I get that way with people who let me down in my life.  People who some how don’t live up to my standard of how a Christian should live.  But I am so grateful that Jesus doesn’t give up on me when I fall so short of who I am suppose to be in Him.

My Sunday school teacher was wrong.  We will face people letting us down, people hurting us, people acting in a manner they should not because that is just what people do.  Jesus commands us to love as He loved us.  We must ask Him to teach us how to be patient with people who fall short of our hopes for them.  Forgive the people who let us down.  If we love Jesus this is what He asks of us.

Journal

Write a prayer asking God for patience. Ask Him to help you to let go of when people let us down. Write down the times you know you have not been patient and ask him to forgive your impatience. List the times Jesus has been patient with you. The times you looked away and started sinking. The times you swore you would never deny him and then said “I don’t know the man”. Ask for forgiveness and thank Him for his patience. Ask specifically how you can show patience to the person God gave you to practice Agape on.

Activity

Watch for times when you can show patience.  When you feel yourself being disappointed or frustrated do not react.  Separate from the situation and place the situation on the altar before Jesus.  Ask Him how to show patience so that it provides a learning experience for the person involve.