Many of us have a complicated relationship with patience: We know we should strive for it, and at the same time, we hate practicing it. After all, the word itself means "long-suffering." Does praying for patience mean inviting suffering into our lives?

No, says Gretchen Ronnevik. Patience is not something we manufacture; it is from God's nature, and to know patience is to know the God whose love endures forever. Praying for patience is praying for God to be with us, and with the comfort of his presence, we can lavish patience on others without hesitation or regret. Understanding patience this way reframes it not as a virtue we dread being forced to develop but rather as an attribute of God that is a steadying force in our lives.

This honest, comforting, and encouraging book shows how seeing God's steadfastness as his nature will anchor you in the truth that his patient presence is with you in whatever you're facing.