The Fruit of the Spirit: Learning Patience and Self-Control Through God’s Strength

Learning From the Fruits of the Spirit

I was recently listening to a sermon on the Fruits of the Spirit. I’ve read this list in Galatians many times, but other than treating it like a checklist, I hadn’t really stopped to think about what each fruit means in my daily life. As with any checklist, there are some things I can put a checkmark beside, and then there are others that give me a hard time.

I haven’t mastered any of the fruits, but if I’m honest, the two that challenge me most are patience and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

I love the New Living Translation because it’s so easy to understand. Words like forbearance and longsuffering sound lovely but don’t always click with me. This list, however, hits home.

Patience: Trusting God’s Timing

Even though patience isn’t a strong suit of mine, I can usually keep it somewhat in check. Yes, I want things done right now, and waiting drives me crazy. But I’ve learned (and am still learning) that it’s His timing, not mine. When I remind myself of that truth, I can settle into a sense of peace while I wait.

That peace doesn’t come from me, it comes from trusting that God is at work even when I can’t see it.

Self-Control: The Harder Fruit to Grow

Now, self-control is a completely different story. I might manage it well in one area, but there’s always another part of my life where it slips right through my fingers.

Think about how many areas we face this challenge:

• The food we eat
• The words we speak
• The thoughts we entertain
• What we watch or listen to
• Our spending habits
• The company we keep

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

Without self-control, we’re like an unprotected city, wide open to attacks. And let’s be honest, the devil loves when we’re vulnerable. It’s his favorite opportunity to slip in and cause chaos.

Relying on the Holy Spirit Instead of Ourselves

Here’s where I used to get it wrong. Because the word is self-control, I assumed that I was supposed to be able to fix it all on my own. But that’s not how it works.

We’re not meant to control ourselves by sheer willpower; we’re meant to be guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Definition of Control:
The power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events.

We don’t like the idea of being controlled, even by ourselves, but in reality, we’re all influenced by something. It could be food, fear, money, comparison, or even other people’s opinions. Most of us have at least one or two areas we wrestle with daily.

That’s why surrendering control to God is so freeing. It’s not about losing control; it’s about letting the right One take over.

The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

It really all comes down to two choices:
Do we feed our flesh, or do we feed our spirit?

Galatians 5:17 (NIV)
¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

It reminds me of the old image of a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. Both whispering in your ear, both fighting to win your attention. So which one wins?

There’s an old Cherokee tale that answers that question perfectly.

The Tale of Two Wolves

“A Cherokee elder was teaching his young grandson about life.

‘A fight is going on inside me,’ he said. ‘It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One is evil – anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, lies, and ego.
The other is good – joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, generosity, truth, and faith.
This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.’

The boy thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
‘Which wolf will win?’

The elder simply replied,
‘The one you feed.’”

― Tsalagi Tale

We have that same choice every single day. From the moment we wake up until we close our eyes at night, we decide which wolf we’re feeding, the one driven by flesh or the one led by the Spirit.

God Always Provides a Way Out

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Temptation isn’t new, and it isn’t unique to us. The good news? God has already provided the way out. We don’t have to fight our battles alone because the Champion of Heaven fights for us.

So today, when those temptations come, and they will, pause, pray, and ask yourself: Which wolf am I feeding right now?

Choose the one that leads to peace, patience, and self-control. Choose the Spirit.

Now go feed that good wolf.

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!

Let’s End With a Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding me that the Fruits of the Spirit aren’t just goals to achieve, but gifts to grow through Your power. Help me surrender control and lean on You when patience wears thin or self-control feels impossible. Teach me to feed the good wolf within me, the one that reflects Your love, peace, and joy. Strengthen me daily, and let Your Spirit guide my choices.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.