The Power to Pause

Within the Book of Proverbs, we find the wisdom of waiting. The practice of patience, or being "slow to anger", is revealed as an essential characteristic of the wise. The link between impatience and the folly of angry reactions is clear. Patience may not be our natural disposition but the Word of God is our standard. Thankfully we have the Holy Spirit as our Helper.

Patience means enduring or persevering through challenges or hardship. Many things can justifiably cause anger but wisdom does not hand power to our emotions to push us towards a kneejerk reaction. Anger tries to immediately redress the perceived imbalance by any means necessary, often going above and beyond the wrong received. It is a self-preservation tactic.

Patience suffers the injustice, insult, delay, or let down, (including personal failure) long enough to consider how to respond with wisdom. Patience relies on God to fight for her.

Wisdom is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That decision may take time to present itself or we may need time to choose it. Sometimes a ten-second pause can make all the difference. Other times we need to endure for extended periods or indefinitely. Either way, patience is essential for anyone seeking to operate in the wisdom of God.

We can choose to be led by God's Spirit rather than our emotions. It takes practice to become patient and practice itself takes patience.

As you Write the Scriptures below, think about how the power to pause can help you endure injustice:

Proverbs 15:18

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 14:29

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 25:15

With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

Proverbs 19:11

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offence.

Proverbs 16:32

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

James 1:19-20

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

All Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) or English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

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