Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

Hello! Today we are going to dive into the fruit of the spirit - Patience! Maybe some of you are acutely aware of this fruit right now. We are having to be patient as we wait for the all clear to leave our homes for more than a quick run to the grocery store. How is that going for you? Are you leaning in to this time that was thrust upon us? Are you looking for where blessings can be found? Or are you seeing the trial in front of you, unable to be still and wait? Whichever boat you find yourself in right now, patience is still a fruit we need to be aware of, practice, and bear.

Over-arching Fruit of the Spirit memory verse:

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

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GET TO KNOW THE FRUITS!

Use this to engage your young children in the content. It tends to be a younger crowd favorite, so you may want to begin each "Fruit of the Spirit" session with this song.

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Optional memory verse:

Ephesians 4:2, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

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PATIENCE: Opening songs:

For the younger children:

For the family:

As you watch/sing-along, consider the words. Consider today's topic - patience! How is that Fruit shown in this song? How can you see yourself bearing this fruit in your everyday life?

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Modern illustration/introduction

For the Youngers -

For the whole family - Here is a quick overview of our topic today: Job and Patience.

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Biblical Example - Patience

Read Hebrews 12:1-3

There is no better biblical example of patience than Job. Job is revealed in times of adversity, as he face unbelievable adversity in his life. He didn't know why and he didn't know what the final outcome would be. During this time of trial in Job's life, he lost his children, his wealth and then he suffered physically. His wife told him to curse God and die. His friends told him that it was all his fault and that God was punishing him. Job responded by saying, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." (Job 13:15a).

Job resolved in his heart to trust in God regardless of his circumstances. He believed in his heart to trust in God no matter what his circumstances were. He believed in the faithfulness and goodness of God. Patient endurance of his trials, whether they are major life altering events, or the minor frustrations of everyday life, is possible only as we continue to trust in God.

Hebrews 12:1-3 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." When we lose our temper, or when we lose hope, we are revealing a lack of trust in God. The result of Job's patient endurance was a deeper relationship with God. Job says, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you" (Job 42:5). This is the difference between believing there is a God, and personally knowing God.

Patience is not just a personality trait, it is the result of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Impatience is usually comes from our own stubborness of wanting what we want, when we want it! When our plans get interrupted we get angry. Whether it is someone getting something we want, something not going our way, or an illness that interrupts life, our tendancy is to get frustrated and angry. What we reveal at those times is our tendancy to obey God only as long as things will go how we want it to or expect it to. The beginning of patience is the surrender of our agenda to God's will and committing ourselves to obedience no matter what the circumstance.

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Application Questions

1. Have you ever had a time in your life when you didn't understand why something was happening?

2. During this time of Covid-19, do you find yourself having difficulty being patient? with your family? with school? with God?

3. What did Job do during his trial?

4. If you had been in Job's shoes, how do you think you might have responded?

5. What are some ways we can practice patience in our everyday lives?

6. Where are places you find yourself losing your patience the quickest?

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Family Prayer Time

As you share in a family prayer time, ask God to remind you to help you have patience even when it is difficult. If there is anyway that you have been impatient lately, confess it to Him and ask Him for forgiveness. Thank Him for His perfect plan and ask Him to help you trust that plan, even if it doesn't seem fair or right.

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Thank you for taking time to use this resource! We hope that they are useful to you as you lead your family closer to each other and deeper in your walks with the Lord! Please comment below how you have been using these studies. We want to hear your stories of praise and celebration. We also want to know if there are ways we can pray for you. Post any of those in the comments below, or message us and we would love to lift you up in prayer.

Thank you,

Rachel and Daryl