Living in the Garden of Grace: Patience – A Gift, Not a Goal
Reflections on David Kuykendall’s Living in the Garden of Grace
Do You Need to Learn Patience?
When asked if we need to learn patience, many of us instinctively nod in agreement. After all, patience seems like a quality to strive for—something we must master through effort and practice. Yet, as Kuykendall insightfully points out, the need is not to learn patience but to receive it.
The Apostle Paul clarifies this truth:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is ... patience” (Galatians 5:22, NIV).
Patience is not something we achieve through self-discipline or determination; it is a gift produced by the Holy Spirit in those who are yielded to Him.
The Burden of Self-Made Patience
Attempting to “learn patience” often leads to frustration. We place the burden on ourselves to conjure up something that only God can provide. This mindset stems from the flesh, which operates under the illusion that we can improve ourselves through sheer willpower.
But the Bible teaches a radically different approach. The patience we need is not a product of human effort but the supernatural fruit of the Spirit. As we yield to the Holy Spirit and live the exchanged life—relying on Christ as our source—His patience flows through us.
The Gift of Divine Patience
Living under grace means resting in God’s sufficiency to meet every need, including patience. When the Spirit produces patience in us, it transforms our relationships, eases our burdens, and brings peace to our hearts.
This divine patience is more than the ability to endure difficult circumstances. It is a calm assurance rooted in God’s timing and His faithfulness. It enables us to wait without anxiety, trust without wavering, and love without limits.
Walking in Grace, Living in Patience
The life of grace guarantees a life of patience. As we abide in Christ and are filled with His Spirit, patience becomes a natural outflow of our union with Him. We don’t need to strive for it, only to trust the Spirit to cultivate it within us.
Reflect & Respond
Are you trying to “learn patience” in your own strength? What would it look like to trust the Spirit to produce patience in your life?
Think of a situation where patience is required. How might yielding to the Spirit change the way you respond?
Prayer
“Father, thank You that patience is a fruit of Your Spirit and not something I must manufacture on my own. I surrender my attempts to create patience in my strength and trust You to produce it in me. May Your Spirit fill me and flow through me, bringing patience to every situation and relationship in my life. Thank You for the peace and rest that come from living in Your grace. Amen.”
A Final Thought
Patience is not something we “learn” but a gift we receive from the Spirit as we walk in grace. When we cease striving and trust the Spirit’s work, patience takes root in our hearts and overflows into every area of our lives.
Let’s live in the freedom of knowing that the patience we need is already available to us in Christ, waiting to be received as part of the abundant life He offers.