Bible verses about
Impatience
King Saul’s impatience cost him a royal legacy (1 Samuel 13:13-14). King David’s impatience cost Uzzah his life (2 Samuel 6:1-9). Though the word “impatience” rarely occurs in the Bible, themes of anxiety, exasperation, rash eagerness, and impulsiveness weave throughout Scripture.
Jesus’ counsel is clear: do not be anxious in anything. Seek God first, and rest assured that He will provide everything you need at the proper time (Matthew 6:25-34).
God understands humanity’s impatience and advises restraint
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won’t delay.
Impatience often occurs when things don’t go my way
Job 21:4
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
Don’t allow impatience for earthly things to steal your time with God
Matthew 6:31-34
“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.”
God hears my impatient prayers
Psalm 38:21-22
Don’t forsake me, LORD. My God, don’t be far from me. Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.
When Jesus calls me, I will hurry to Him
Luke 19:5-6
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.
Impatience is pointless; there is a time for everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Our impatience with God is in contrast to His patience with us
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Impatience is costly
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
I must not be impatient for God to keep His promises
Hebrews 10:36-37
For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. “In a very little while, he who comes will come, and will not wait.”
Impatience can cause me to sin
Leviticus 5:4-5
Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil or to do good—whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it is hidden from him—when he knows of it, then he will be guilty of one of these. It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned.
Impatience can lead to saying things I regret
Ecclesiastes 5:2
Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
