Fear and Patience

Fear and impatience are inseparably linked, for fear drives men either to reckless retreat or to rash attack, both of which are attempts to escape the strain of waiting on God, whereas true courage is marked by patience and trust. The impatient man fears that life is cheating him, that delay is loss, and so he rushes ahead to secure by his own devices what he doubts God will provide; in doing so, he runs not only from himself but from God’s providence. Patience, by contrast, is an act of faith and a confession of fearlessness, declaring confidence that God’s timing is neither careless nor cruel but wise and sure. As Paul teaches, tribulation works patience, patience produces experience, and experience gives rise to hope that does not disappoint, because it rests in the love of God. To fear is to be impatient; to trust God is to wait without fear, confident that He will restore what is lost and bring His purposes to completion in His perfect time.