God is building toughness in His Church. "Patience" might better be translated as "toughness".

How God empowers us to grow to a new level of faith, glory and strength. Glory to Glory; Faith to Faith; Strength to Strength. Most believers don't understand the glory that we will display after we see Jesus.  There may be even a greater glory after we have been in heaven with Jesus for billions of years. Without diminishing our growth in faith thus far, God expects us to continue to grow to a new level of faith, glory and strength.   "Patience" in the KJV might better be translated as "toughness" or "endurance".   God doesn't test us so He knows if we pass; God knows everything from the end to the beginning.  He test us so we can pass gloriously.