“Don’t ask God for patience unless you’re ready for Him to test your patience.” It’s a phrase many of us have heard—maybe even said with a smirk or a sigh after a long day with our kids. It's often referred to as a “dangerous prayer,” because asking God for patience almost guarantees you’ll be given opportunities to practice it.
And if you’re a parent, you already know those opportunities come daily:
-Mismatched socks on picture day.
-Meltdowns over chicken nuggets.
-Bedtime negotiations that rival UN peace talks.
It’s easy to feel like your patience is constantly running on empty.
But here’s the truth: God cares deeply about your character—and patience is a key part of it. So much so, He made it one of the fruits of the Spirit.
That means patience isn’t something we just dig up from within ourselves when we’re on the verge of losing it. It’s something the Holy Spirit grows in us as we stay connected to Him.
So yes, it’s a “dangerous prayer”, but it’s also a holy one.
When you ask God for patience, you’re asking Him to shape you into someone more like Jesus. You’re inviting Him into the chaos of parenting and admitting, “I can’t do this on my own.”
And the good news? You don’t have to.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:2
Today, don’t be afraid to pray that prayer. Ask for patience—not because you're ready to handle it all, but because you trust that God will give you what you need, moment by moment, meltdown by meltdown.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” — Galatians 5:22-23
