Wednesday, December 3 Clothe yourselves with . . . patience.​—Col. 3:12.

[Áine]

Wednesday, December 3

Clothe yourselves with . . . patience.—Col. 3:12.

 

Consider four ways we can demonstrate patience. First, a patient person is slow to anger. He tries to stay calm and to hold back from retaliating when provoked or under stress. (Ex. 34:6) Second, a patient person can wait calmly. If something takes longer than expected, such a person tries to avoid becoming restless or irritable. (Matt. 18:26, 27) Third, a patient person is not rash. When a patient person has an important task to accomplish, he does not rush into it; nor does he rush through it. Rather, he sets aside a reasonable amount of time to plan what he will do. Then he gives the task the time that it requires. Fourth, a patient person strives to bear trials without complaining. He does his best to continue enduring while maintaining a positive attitude. (Col. 1:11) As Christians, we need to show all these facets of patience. w23.0820-21 ¶3-6

[dljbsp]

Notice how clothing works. You don’t drift into wearing something; you put it on with intent. Paul uses that image for a reason. Patience isn’t an emotion we wait to feel — it’s a garment we choose to wear before the pressures of the day start tugging at us.

 

When we look at the four facets described — restraining anger, waiting without agitation, avoiding rash decisions, and enduring trials without complaint — we see a pattern. These are not passive states. They are deliberate acts of self-governance. They take time, clarity, and a settled heart anchored in Jehovah’s way of thinking.

 

Now reframe the scene: every one of those facets is something Jehovah himself displays. Exodus 34:6 anchors the first; Matthew 18:26, 27 shows the second; Colossians 1:11 reinforces the fourth. We are not inventing patience — we are reflecting the One who has shown it toward us again and again, often at moments when we did not deserve it.

 

Here is the distilled insight: patience is not weakness. It is controlled strength. It is choosing calm when agitation feels easier. It is buying time for wisdom to speak before emotion takes the microphone. It is trusting that Jehovah sees more than we do and will act at the right moment, even when the moment feels late to us.

 

What does Jehovah see me wearing?

Edited December 3 by dljbsp

[dljbsp]

I spent some time reflecting on how we show patience when we endure trial. We do not usually think of Jehovah enduring trial, they are different from our trials.

Had to expand on that:

 

When Jehovah Is Patient Under Fire “Clothe yourselves with … patience.” — Colossians 3:12 A question worth asking Some wonder, “Does Jehovah suffer trials?” At first, the answer may seem simple: no, because he is perfect. Yet when we look more closely at what the Bible says, the picture is richer. Jehovah is never tempted to do wrong. Still, he does endure intense opposition, slander, and delay in bringing his purpose to completion. That kind of pressure is very real, and it teaches us a great deal about his patience. Jehovah cannot be tempted with evil The disciple James writes that God cannot be tried with evil and that he does not try anyone with evil things (James 1:13). That statement is absolute. No situation, no pressure, no accusation can draw Jehovah toward injustice or wrongdoing. His holiness is unshakable. Unlike humans, he has no weak spot that sin can exploit. So in the sense of moral temptation, Jehovah does not “suffer trials” the way we do. Evil cannot pull him.   However, trials are not only about temptation to sin. They can also involve long opposition, stubborn rebellion, and repeated misrepresentation. In that sense, the Bible shows that Jehovah has been under attack from the very beginning of human history. Yet he endures opposition and accusation In Eden, Satan’s challenge was not just against Adam and Eve. It was a direct assault on Jehovah’s way of ruling and on his right to set moral standards (Genesis 3). Later, in the book of Job, Satan accused Jehovah of buying loyalty, claiming that Job served God only for selfish reasons (Job 1:9-11; 2:4, 5).   Jehovah himself once asked, “How long will this people treat me without respect?” (Numbers 14:11). Through Isaiah, we learn that his spirit was made to feel hurt when his people rebelled (Isaiah 63:10). These accounts do not suggest weakness in Jehovah; they reveal that he notices opposition, feels the pain of betrayal, and yet chooses to respond in a controlled, righteous way.   Peter later explains that Jehovah is patient, not wanting people to be destroyed but to attain repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Patience exists only where there is something to endure. Lies about his name, cruelty carried out on the earth he created, indifference to his kindness — Jehovah sees all of this and holds back immediate judgment so that more people can change. What his patience teaches us Jehovah is never pushed toward sin. He is never worn down into doing what is wrong. Yet he chooses to endure Satan’s challenge, human rebellion, and centuries of injustice while his purpose unfolds on schedule. In that way, he has faced the most intense opposition in the universe and has responded with calm, principled restraint.   When Paul tells Christians to clothe themselves with patience (Colossians 3:12), he is inviting us to imitate that beautiful quality. We may be misrepresented. We may face provocation, injustice, or long periods where problems seem unresolved. In those moments, patience is not passivity. It is choosing to wait for Jehovah’s timing, to hold back from rash words, and to keep doing what is right even when the pressure rises.   So, does Jehovah suffer trials? He is never tempted to do evil. Yet he has endured relentless opposition and accusation since Eden. His patient response is not a sign of distance; it is a sign of majestic self-control. When we feel under fire, we can remember that we serve the One who has stayed faithful under the greatest test of all and who will soon bring every challenge to a just and peaceful end. © 2025 David Paull. This reflection is shared for upbuilding use among Jehovah’s Witnesses. Please do not repost commercially or outside its intended spiritual setting.

Edited December 3 by dljbsp