When God’s Patience Meets Our Greatest Failures

God’s Patience in Paul’s Testimony

We wait a lot. We wait for traffic, we wait for our meals at a restaurant, and we wait for important things as well, like promotions, a spouse and children. Most of us don't wait patiently. Aren't you glad that God is not like us? Paul knew this firsthand. In 1 Timothy 1 Paul shares his testimony of how God’s patience rescued him. This is what he says. Pay close attention to his description of Jesus,

"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:16, NIV)

Paul is explaining that the reason he was shown mercy by God is so that the "immense patience" of Jesus could be seen by people who "would believe". Like Paul, we can rejoice that God has patience in our failures. Paul's struggle is a mirror for our own struggles.

The Worst of Sinners and God’s Mercy

Paul speaks of himself as the "worst of sinners". Many of us have had similar feelings about our lives. Sometimes in the midst of sin, we may feel unforgivable or that God could never love us. Especially if something bad happens to us during this time, we see it, if we even think about God at all, as His punishment. We believe it's proof He doesn't love us. We forget that there are consequences to sin, not just in the world to come but in this one. Do you ever feel like your sins disqualify you from God’s love?

Some of us may feel like we have no place in church because we have failed God so totally. We agree with Paul that we must be the "worst of sinners." But Paul's point here is that by forgiving us we are examples to others. Maybe you've heard stories of people: murderers or porn addicts, who have been forgiven by God, blessed with faith, and shown His grace. No matter our background, no matter our sin, Jesus can transform us into new creations that will live for Him. We are to put on the new man, as Paul tells us (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Conversion and God’s Transforming Patience

As Christians we speak of converting people, but what does that mean? To convert something means to change it from one thing to another. We don't convert people, the Holy Spirit does. But He does use us as His tools. We are His example to the world of what conversion looks like. We can tell our own stories of God's patience with us before we were changed.

God’s Patience in our Failures

A friend told me once of the many times she had ignored God's warnings. God had spoken through friends and random odd events that, looking back, showed her God speaking. One day, jokingly, a friend warned, "Now don't go and do _______ today." Never imagining she had actually planned to do that very sin that day. She praised God for His patience. She thanked Him that He did not give up on her, but reached down and saved her from destruction.

“Can you look back and see how God patiently guided you even when you resisted Him?”

Paul’s Past and Our Own Arrogance

Paul says that the reason Jesus came into the world was to save sinners. He believes himself to be one of the worst sinners. In verse 13 he lists his sins: blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. Paul blasphemed Jesus by not believing He was the Son of God. He persecuted Christians for this belief. And he was an arrogant opponent of them.

Paul thought he was in the right and that this justified the terrible things he did to Christians. How many of us today are insolent opponents to people who don't think like we do, whether they are brothers and sisters in Christ or unbelievers? Are we arrogant or humble? Paul's transformation shows us how to live as Jesus did.

“Arrogance blinds; humility opens us to grace.”

Imitating Christ’s Patience and Humility

Jesus' example is one of patience and humility. As our role model we are expected to be the same. When we encounter non-Christians who are still deep in sins like sexual immorality, theft, greed, or abusive speech, we must remember that many of us were once like them (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). If God has blessed us with faith and forgiveness, it is not because we deserved it. God's patience with us in our failures allowed us to see Him for who He really is by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“How patient are you with those still trapped in sin?”

Don’t Presume on God’s Patience

How many of us have felt, or perhaps still feel, that God has run out of patience with us? Peter reiterates what Paul says in 2 Peter 3:9. God is patient with us because he wants to give us time to repent and turn to Him because He wants no one to die without His saving knowledge. But still, as Paul explains in Romans 2:4, we shouldn't "presume" on God's patience with us.

This simply means that we shouldn't take advantage of God's mercy, kindness, and patience towards us. Paul continues this thought in Romans 6:1-2 and 6:15. We don't continue in sin just because God has shown us patience and grace. Paul emphasizes that God's grace is not a "get out of jail free card". God is not just patient with us individually, but also on a national level.

Nations and the Church Experience the Patience of God

In the Old Testament the prophet Joel speaks to the people of Israel and tells them that they must,

"Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. (Joel 2:13)

Some of us, like the nation of Israel, have gone back to the old ways, the old sins. Some of us have pretended to be sorry but it was just for show. The prophet here is telling us our repentance must be from the heart.

When repentance is real and we return to God, the God who is full of grace and compassion, the God who is patient, loving, and slow to become angry, will relent. God will move from judgment upon us to forgiveness. Out of His mercy He will not send the thing we deserve - punishment.

Exodus 34:6 explains that God is merciful and patient with His people, but eventually even His patience has a limit. In Nehemiah 9:30 we are told what happens when a people pay no attention to God or the warnings of His prophets. His patience is finally worn thin and they are handed over for judgment to another nation.

Our God is full of grace but He is also righteous and judges as He warns. History shows us that God’s patience, though abundant, is not endless. The same question now comes to the church in our time.

What about the church today? Is God’s patience with us as His people a call to revival? The world seems to be growing in violence and hatred on a daily basis. The church has a role to play. Are we? Are we praying and fasting, are we being the witnesses to others we have been called to be? Jesus wants us to stand for Him. We don't want to be like the Church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:16.

"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

Trusting God’s Perfect Timing and Mercy

But whether we are talking of God's patience individually or as a nation, His timing is perfect. Things happen to us and God speaks to us in such a way as to accomplish His perfect will. Scriptures like Isaiah 60:22, Ecclesiastes 3:11, and Galatians 4:4 all give voice to the idea that God's timing and His patience with us is part of the plan He has for us. If God’s timing was perfect for the coming of Christ, we can trust it will also be perfect in our own lives.

As followers of Christ we are to show others the same patience He has shown us. Jesus modeled this patience with His disciples and their inability to realize who He really was. He showed patience with the throngs of people around Him. When we don't show patience it is evidence that we want to be the ones in control, that maybe we aren't as loving as we should be, and perhaps we aren't truly trusting in God's timing.

“Will you trust God’s timing, even when life feels delayed?”

Patience isn’t just about surviving traffic jams. Patience builds endurance for more trying times. Waiting on God isn't always easy. As Billy Graham observed,

“It is the regular exercise of patience and long-suffering in the small day-to-day frustrations and irritations which prepares us to endure when the great battles come.”

As believers we should be thankful for the patience God has shown us. If you’ve failed repeatedly, God’s patience isn’t exhausted yet, He’s still working in you. If you are not a Christian or think you can't be one because you aren't good enough realize that God has been lovingly patient with you. Even in our failures God is patient with us.

Know that we aren't saved because we are good enough. Reach out to a Father who loves you like no human can and who can be trusted to be faithful above all others. He patiently waits, like the Prodigal Son's father, for you to turn to Him so He can wrap you in His arms of forgiveness and mercy.