August 10, 2026

The scriptures use the word patience frequently, especially in the New Testament. I saw the phrase "patient continuance" the other day and have been thinking about it since.

Romans 2:7

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

As I ponder on this statement, I have thought specifically about the difference between continuing in well doing and patiently continuing in well doing. What does the added word mean? Is not continual well doing enough?

Yes, we must be patient with others, but continual well doing can be tiring work, and we will all end up with gaps so that it's never quite continual. We must be patient with ourselves. Keep our eyes on the Lord, repent, and keep striving to do good continually.

At the end of the first chapter of Job we read: "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

The footnote on "taken" points to the typical guide for the the word "patience". A third layer of patience is patience with God. This is synonymous with trust and faith. We must truly believe He loves us and that, though we wait, He will make us whole. Patience is a core principal in enduring to the end.