Abstract: The elements of the fruit of the spirit are elements of God, but we do not need to struggle they will grow as fruit on a tree grows, naturally. The Greek is Makrothumia and can be loosely translated as 'great temperament' or 'long suffering', in a settled emotional state. God is slow to anger and is thus patient. The Church often gives a wrong impression of what it is to be a Christian and will upset God. Being patient means that God wants us to be in action but not to try to take over, not to do what God has not told us to do. He wants us to wait and do things in his time. Patience is keeping our focus on God and understanding that He will do what He says He will do. God has promised that Christ will come again and it will happen. So we need to be patient.