"Ye have heard," says James in his epistle, "of the patience of Job;" and indeed Job's patience in affliction has become proverbial. From a material standpoint Job's prosperity seemed assured. He possessed large flocks and herds, a happy family, and good health. Yet in a little while misfortune had apparently overwhelmed him, and he seemed to have lost all that he had. Job, however, still possessed his greatest treasure, an unshakable trust in God and His power and wisdom. His wife, on the other hand, overcome by the material evidence of evil, said impatiently: "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." Job refused to listen to the suggestion of error, and his patience while God's purpose was unfolding to him had its reward in the eventual disappearance of the evidence of evil, and he was restored to health and prosperity.
Patience, meaning constancy, being a quality of infinite Mind, belongs not to one age more than another. But at this period of the world's history, when changes occur so rapidly and life appears to be a constant rush to keep abreast of the times, patience may seem to be largely absent. There seems to be so much to do and understand, and so little time in which to do it, that one is inclined to seize upon what appears to him as right and good without due reflection. One is inclined, in the words of Epictetus, "To be hurried away by the appearance of evil."
The Christian Scientist, having learned that the real universe is Godcreated and God-governed, strives to overcome impatience with the patience that is born of spiritual understanding. He knows that as he spiritualizes his thinking, the real universe of Mind, ordered and controlled by Principle, will become more and more apparent to him. So he moves on quietly and assuredly trusting in God, joyfully taking every step that lies in the way of accomplishment. Such a one is unmoved in the face of delay, ignorance, perverseness, and hindrance, because he knows that these errors, not being of God, are without reality and have no power to prevent the unfoldment of God's plan, and that they disappear in the light of Truth. The realization that God, Mind, is everywhere, knowing and controlling His own creation, and that so-called mortal mind is powerless to prevent or affect the divine order, eliminates impatience and brings an abiding sense of peace and calm. "Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." And Isaiah foretold the appearing of the Christ, proclaiming that "the government shall be upon his shoulder."
