The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 103:8

 

“I’ve never been particularly patient,” a parent admitted in a parenting class just weeks before the birth of his son. “I have no idea how I’ll handle tantrums and disobedience.”

That nervous father, candid about his parenting concerns, displayed admirable self-awareness as he anticipated the challenges of fatherhood. Few things test patience like raising children. These precious gifts from God also have a remarkable knack for pushing our buttons.

Patience is one of the foundational skills you learn and practice every day of parenthood. God, too, is patient with us. Yet, unlike human patience, God’s patience isn’t ever strained through gritted teeth! God finds joy in even the slightest growth with us. The Bible’s Psalm 103 says, “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Psalms 103:8). He doesn’t snap at your mistakes and asking why you didn’t get it right the first time. Instead, God is there next to you, reminding, encouraging, and teaching you.

When we experience God’s patient guidance in our lives, we can pass on His patience and kindness. Suddenly, our teenagers’ rebellion is an opportunity to show undeserved mercy as we initiate heart-to-heart conversations. Our toddler’s tantrum is a chance to show the same firm but gentle love we receive from God. Agonizing over the same homework problem with our child for an hour models God’s long-suffering perseverance alongside us in struggles.

If patience escapes you, you’re not alone. Ask God today to teach you how to find his patience and persistence in those moments of frustration, reminding yourself of His love for you.