Some days the need to repeat instructions doesn’t feel all that stressful. Maybe those are days when I’ve driven through Starbucks on the way to school… Or maybe those are mostly Fridays when the weekend is just around the corner… Regardless, some days I have more patience for the repetition. But other days, it just feels so darn frustrating. Like, seriously? I really have to go back through allllll of that again? Ughhh. 

Let me pause right here to mention that I do realize sometimes students’ absences are completely out of their control! Perhaps the bus didn’t show up that morning, or maybe there was a serious family circumstance that kept them out of school for a day or two. Because they’re young and often have no power over whether or not they make it to class, I try to keep patience and understanding at the forefront of my heart and mind. But sometimes my humanity wins the battle, and I let my feelings of annoyance and frustration show. Oops. 🙁

One morning last week, when my journalism class ended and I was still feeling a bit sorry for myself at the extra effort I’d had to exert when repeating some instruction for my two chronic absentees, I thought about all of the repeated words and phrases in the Bible. I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that the general sentiment behind the words, “do not be afraid,” is in the Bible enough times to read a different occurrence every single day of the year. God’s covenants made in the Old Testament are also often repeated. For example, a quick Google search tells me the Abrahamic covenant is repeated 46 times.

Why the repetition? Sometimes repetition lets us know how important something is. Also, who can forget, we are human! And humans are forgetful. (Who can forget? We can! 😉) We may just need that many reminders of God’s instructions and promises from time to time. Regardless of the reason, we know that each word of Scripture has purpose and intent behind it. God does not include words that are not necessary and calculated in His Word.

…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. -Isaiah 55:11

As I mentally called myself out for being too frustrated when I had to repeat my instructions the other day, I thought about when Jesus might have felt this way. In Mark 6:30-44, Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000 men, plus the women and children who were with them. The disciples were present for this incredible miracle, and they were actually active participants! They were the ones who passed out the bread and fish that multiplied before their very eyes. They also picked up the leftovers after everyone ate, ending up with 12 baskets full of extra food. 

Then, flip just a couple pages in your Bible, and in Mark 8:1-13, there was again a large crowd gathered around Jesus, and they were again hungry. Jesus called His disciples to Him and expressed compassion for the people who had been with him for three days and were hungry. Surely the disciples remembered when Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000+, right? Surely they would respond with something like, “We saw how you fed the crowd last time, Lord. We’re ready to assist as you do it again!” But no, it seems like they had forgotten. 

His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” -Mark 8:4

What do you think Jesus was thinking when His disciples asked Him this question? If I put myself in His position, my response would have been something like this: You’re joking, right? Have you already forgotten about that massive crowd I miraculously fed not long ago? I think my body language would have totally exposed my frustration (like it might have accidentally done when I had to repeat so much instruction for my frequently absent students). My shoulders may have dropped, my body going slightly limp, and an exasperated sigh might have even escaped from my nose or mouth. 

But, of course, Jesus kept His cool and kept moving right along. 

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  -Mark 8:5-8 

Bless that Jesus of ours! Even if He was exasperated inside, He just kept going and showed the disciples, yet again, how He could make much of little. What if He’d said, Seriously? I already taught you this lesson once. Apparently you missed it, so that’s your loss. You better pay better attention in the future because I only go over things ONCE. 

I can’t even imagine Jesus responding like that! Can you? And how blessed are we to have a God who is patient with us. …because the disciples weren’t the only ones who needed to be re-taught. Speaking for myself, I know I’ve struggled with the same sins over and over again. And every time I fall back into the same destructive patterns, Jesus shows me yet again what His Word says. He shows me yet again how to change my ways. He shows me yet again how to align myself with Him. The repetition we read in the Bible proves God’s patience, as we see Him repeat certain words and ideas over and over again. 

One of the main ways God shows His patience is by continuing to wait for unbelievers to repent and turn to Him in surrender. 

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. -2 Peter 3:9

Thank you, Lord, for your patience. 

The next time you have a moment of impatience, stop and thank God for His patience with you and with your loved ones who haven’t surrendered to Him yet. Use your human restlessness and exasperation to reflect on God’s perfect character—His perfect patience, which is so far from anything we humans have to offer.