Cultivating Patience in Trials and Tribulations of Life
The cultivation of patience in trials and tribulations is a significant theme across Christian traditions, though the precise emphasis and theological underpinnings can vary. The core agreement is that trials are instrumental in developing patience, which in turn fosters other virtues [1, 3].
One perspective, prominent in Reformed and Baptist traditions, views patience as a direct outcome of God's work in believers during suffering. John Gill, for instance, explains that tribulations exercise and increase patience, which then "enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience" of God's love, faithfulness, and power [7]. This experience, in turn, strengthens hope [7]. Charles Hodge further elaborates that the eternal future prepared by God makes the sorrows of this life seem incomparable to the glory to be revealed, transforming mere contentment into profound peace and joy [9]. This view often highlights perseverance as an evidence of reconciliation with God and belonging to Christ, maintained through divine power and Christ's intercession [6].
Another understanding, found in Catholic scholastic thought, considers patience as a "quasi-potential part of fortitude" [8]. Thomas Aquinas defines patience as suffering "with an equal mind the evils inflicted by others" [8]. While fortitude primarily concerns evils connected with the danger of death, patience is annexed to it as a secondary virtue, dealing with other forms of suffering [8]. This perspective emphasizes the moral and virtuous aspect of enduring hardship.
The Patristic tradition, as exemplified by Augustine, also links tribulation to patience, experience, and hope, drawing directly from Romans 5:4 [1, 10]. Augustine uses this passage to demonstrate the value of patience, even citing Old Testament examples to counter those who might dismiss its importance [10]. Similarly, the Lutheran tradition, as seen in the Augsburg Confession, finds great consolation in the doctrine that consciences are set at rest not by works, but by faith, leading to peace with God, especially in times of conflict and anxiety [11].
Despite these distinct emphases, traditions generally agree that patience is a virtue to be actively cultivated [2]. It is seen as a characteristic of saints, to be manifested in seeking God, waiting upon Him, persevering in prayer, and continuing in well-doing and faith [6]. Christ himself is presented as the ultimate example of patience under suffering and persecution [2, 4, 5]. The divergence often lies in the theological framework that explains how patience is cultivated and what its primary purpose is—whether it primarily demonstrates God's work in the believer, strengthens moral character, or provides assurance of salvation.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 5:4 (Tyndale) — pacience bringeth experience experience bringeth hope.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Patience — God, is the God of -- Ro 15:5. Christ, an example of -- Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32; Mt 27:14. Enjoined -- Tit 2:2; 2Pe 1:6. Should have its perfect work -- Jas 1:4. Trials of saints lead to -- Ro 5:3; Jas 1:3. Produces Experience. -- Ro 5:4. Hope. -- Ro 15:4. Suffering with, for well-doing, is acceptable with God -- 1Pe 2:20. To be exercised Running the race set before us. -- Heb 12:1. Bringing forth fruits. -- Lu 8:15. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; Ga 6:9. Waiting for God. -- Ps 37:7; 40:1. Waiting for Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 2Th 3:5. Waiting for the hope of the gospel. -- R”
- James “James 1:3 (LITV) — knowing that the proving of your faith works patience.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Lamb, The — The young of the flock -- Ex 12:5; Eze 45:15. Described as Patient. -- Isa 53:7. Playful. -- Ps 114:4,6. Exposed to danger from wild beasts -- 1Sa 17:34. The shepherd's care for -- Isa 40:11. Used for Food. -- De 32:14; 2Sa 12:4. Clothing. -- Pr 27:26. Sacrifice. -- 1Ch 29:21; 2Ch 29:32. Considered a great delicacy -- Am 6:4. Offered in sacrifice Males. -- Ex 12:5. Females. -- Nu 6:14. While sucking. -- 1Sa 7:9. At a year old. -- Ex 12:5; Nu 6:14. From the earliest times. -- Ge 4:4; 22:7,8. Every morning and evening. -- Ex 29:38,39; Nu 28:3,4. At the pass”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 5:4: And patience experience,.... As tribulations tend to exercise and increase patience, so patience being exercised and increased, enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience; of the love and grace of God communicated to them at such seasons; of his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises; of his power in supporting them; and of their own frailty and weakness; and so are taught humility, thankfulness, and resignation to the will of God: and experience, hope; hope is a gift of God's grace, and is implanted in regeneration, but abounds, increases, and becomes more s”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of Patience, Art. 4: Article: Whether patience is a part of fortitude? I answer that, Patience is a quasi-potential part of fortitude, because it is annexed thereto as secondary to principal virtue. For it belongs to patience "to suffer with an equal mind the evils inflicted by others," as Gregory says in a homily (xxxv in Evang.). Now of those evils that are inflicted by others, foremost and most difficult to endure are those that are connected with the danger of death, and about these evils fortitude is concerned. ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 52: that a hair of our heads cannot perish without his permission. And when we think of the eternal future which He has prepared for us, then we see that the sorrows of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us, and that our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, shall work out for us a far more exceeding and an eternal weight of glory; then mere contentment is elevated to a peace which passes all understanding, and even to a joy which is full of glory. All this is exemplified in the history o”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — CHAP. 23.--SCRIPTURE PRECEPTS AND EXAMPLES OF FORTITUDE. (part 1): 42. Instead of quoting here authorities from the New Testament, where it is said, "Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience and experience, hope; "[1] and where, in addition to these words, there is proof and confirmation of them from the example of those who spoke them; I will rather summon an example of patience from the Old Testament, against which the Manichaeans make fierce assaults. Nor will I refer to the man who, in the midst of great bodily sufferi”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 15 But, although this doctrine is despised by the inexperienced,: 15 But, although this doctrine is despised by the inexperienced, nevertheless God-fearing and anxious consciences find by experience that it brings the greatest consolation, because consciences cannot be set at rest through any works, but only by faith, when they take the sure ground that for Christ’s sake they have a reconciled God. As Paul teaches Rom. 5:1: 16Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. 17 This whole doctrine is to be referred to that conflict of the terrified conscie”