Slow to Anger

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” (Nahum 1:3 ESV)

The Lord is slow to anger, a phrase you have probably heard before. You may have read it in Exodus 34 or Psalm 103, or maybe you read it in Nehemiah 9 or Jonah 4. My point is that throughout the Bible, we are being told of one of God's greatest virtues: His patience.

We should all be thankful for God’s patience. If God were not patient, we would all probably be serving an eternal sentence in hell for our rebellions. As God is not quick to anger, His enemies often suffer for long periods of struggles and trials. God does this in hopes that sinners will see their sins for what they are and repent before Him.

God's omnipotence (all-powerful) is a stark contrast to His patience. He could obliterate anyone at any moment, yet He chooses to reveal His love through patience. This love is not for the guilty but for those who humbly seek His forgiveness, having turned from their sins. Just as He is patient with the guilty, He is fervent for the righteous.

Have you wondered why God, who is all-powerful, does not enable all the elect all at the same time, giving them the ability to hear and understand the gospel all at once? Think of it, all the saints brought to God simultaneously. This is not God’s way. We each have an appointed time to meet Jesus Christ. God has planned our lives from beginning to end and did it all before the beginning of time. We will each carry a cross, a struggle, and difficult times in our lives. These hurdles are what God uses to mold us into the image of Christ. No Christian should think a life of devotion is meant to be easy. Christ himself told us that just as He was persecuted, so shall all disciples of His disciples (John 15:18-20). “No servant is greater than his master.”

God’s patience should serve as a constant reminder of our own struggles with patience. I often find myself in situations where I am more immersed in the Word of God than those around me. The Spirit convicts me of my impatience, leading me to apologize for my failings. Patience is a battle I face daily. But I find solace in the fact that the Lord is patient with me, just as He is with all of us.

Take a moment to reflect on your own shortcomings and sins. Remember the times you've repented for those sins you struggle with and the patience God has shown you. Pray to the Lord for help in breaking the power of these sins and to the Spirit for conviction and guidance away from these sins. Focus on that sin that often trips you up; when Satan places that temptation in front of you, pray with all your might for the strength to repent that sin, turning your back on it.

Remember, God is always there to help you. We are all a work in progress, and God's patience is a testament to His unwavering love for us.

Grace and Peace.