May Q&A: Does God’s Patience Ever Run Out?

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One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 40:25, where the people question God’s care and concern, so God challenges their limited, anxiety filled perspective, saying, “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One (Isa. 40:25). Another favorite of mine is found in Isaiah 46, where Israel is involved in idolatry and God mocks the idea that they created their idols with their own hands and then carried them around and cared for them. To contrast Himself with their foolish idolatry, He calls them to remember His mighty acts of the past and the impotence of their idols, saying, “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me” (Isa. 46:9).

Our God truly is extraordinary, one of a kind, in a category all His own. Among the many attributes that make Him so remarkable is His divine patience, especially as it relates to us as sinners. Scripture repeatedly describes God as “longsuffering,” “slow to anger,” and abundant in mercy. The fact that God has not given us what we deserve as soon as we deserve it is the essence of God’s patience.

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Yet this raises an important question: what are the limits of God’s patience? Does it ever reach a limit? Does it ever become exhausted?

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Some wonder, if God is a God of love (1 Jn. 4:8), and love is patient (1 Cor. 13:4), then how can a God who is infinite in love (Ps. 119:64) ever truly have His patience exhausted?

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Yet we do see moments in Scripture where God’s patience toward rebellion gives way to judgment. The flood came. The Northern Kingdom was hauled off into captivity. Jerusalem fell to the same fate. Over and over again, whether nations or individuals, those who harden their hearts in rebellion eventually face the consequences of rejecting God’s mercy.

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Why? What exactly is God’s patience? Why is God patient? Does His patience ever “run out”? If so, is all hope lost forever?

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In our upcoming Q&A after the evening worship hour, we will explore what Scripture teaches about the patience of God, the purpose behind His delay in judgment, and the danger of taking His mercy for granted. We invite you to join us as we study this important and eye-opening subject together.

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Written by Craig Ressler