The Time for Patience Is Now: Confronting Hate and Ignorance

There’s a darkness sweeping around the world today, a darkness fueled by ignorance, prejudice, hatred and an unrelenting cycle of violence. You can see it everywhere—wars sparked by ideologies, people being crushed under the weight of hatred simply because of the shade of their skin or the beliefs they hold. And the worst part? People continue to feed this fire, not because they don’t know better, but because they’ve chosen to ignore the truth that stares them in the face. It’s not that people are unaware of the suffering; it’s that we’ve become so numb, so accustomed to the chaos, that we no longer react as we should. It’s as if this cycle of destruction, division, and hatred has become the background noise we’ve learned to live with. T
his isn’t just about far-off places where wars rage and atrocities are committed. This is happening right here, right now, within our own borders – no matter what country you live in, in the way we look at someone who’s different from us, in the way we speak to those who don't share our views. We are feeding this cycle of hatred every time we dismiss someone because of their nationality, the shade of their skin, their religion, their political stance, or their social standing.

Scripture tells us in 1 John 4:20, "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." It’s an uncomfortable truth, but we cannot claim to love God while we allow hatred, prejudice, and division to take root in our hearts. How can we claim to love the Creator of all people while we tolerate the destruction of His image in those around us? How can we say we follow Christ, the ultimate example of love and compassion, while we close our hearts to our neighbors? There is no room for hatred in the heart of a believer. Hatred does not build bridges—it builds walls. Hatred does not lead to unity—it leads to destruction. The very foundation of the Gospel is love, and if we are to call ourselves followers of Christ, we must reflect that love in every area of our lives, especially in how we view and treat others.

The world is changing. The truth is coming to light. Whether we’re ready for it or not, the lies we’ve told ourselves, the false narratives we’ve clung to for comfort, are being exposed BY GOD. The illusions we’ve held on to—those that keep us separated, those that tell us some are more valuable than others—are shattering. People can no longer pretend they don’t know about the injustice, the hatred, the destruction. It’s there, it’s real, and it’s up to us to face it—not with avoidance, not with denial, but with action. The time for complacency has passed. But here’s the thing: even as the truth comes out, people continue to hold on to their prejudices. It’s as if we’ve become addicted to the division, to the certainty that some are better than others, to the belief that if someone isn’t like us, they must be lesser than us. We’ve allowed ourselves to be divided into camps, to view others as enemies instead of brothers and sisters. But this is not the way of Christ. This is the way of the world, the way of sin, Satan’s way to cause us to fall along with him, and it’s up to us to break that cycle.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves in Matthew 22:39, saying, "Love your neighbor as yourself." This is not a suggestion, nor is it conditional. This is a command from the One who knows our hearts, who sees past our differences and loves us all. The love we’re called to offer is not based on the color of someone’s skin, their nationality, or their beliefs. It’s not about agreeing with someone’s opinions or condoning their actions—it’s about seeing the humanity in each person, seeing them as God sees them. This is a radical love, a love that challenges our preconceived notions, a love that demands we set aside our biases, our fears, and our hatred. It’s a love that doesn’t settle for the world’s easy divisions but calls us to unity in the midst of diversity.

This is where patience comes in. But I’m not talking about the soft, passive patience we’re often encouraged to embrace by the preachers in the brick n mortar buildings. The kind of patience I’m talking about is the patience that demands you stop. Look. Think. It’s the kind of patience that forces us to wrestle with uncomfortable truths about ourselves and the world. It’s not the kind of patience that just waits for things to improve on their own—it’s the kind that takes action, that is willing to sit in the discomfort and challenge what we’ve been taught, what we’ve accepted, and what we’ve allowed to go unchallenged. We’re quick to judge others, quick to point fingers at the "other side," but how often do we turn that same gaze inward? Matthew 7:3-5 says, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Jesus is asking us to stop and examine ourselves first, to confront the biases, prejudices, and hatred that we may be carrying without even realizing it. We are all flawed, and we cannot begin to heal the world until we first allow God to heal us.

The truth is, people will never be free from their ignorance or hatred if they don't make the choice to actively confront it. Patience is not about passively tolerating things—it’s about making the decision to sit in the discomfort, to allow your mind to churn with difficult thoughts, to wrestle with the way you’ve been taught to see others. It’s the kind of patience that demands we confront the darkness within our own hearts. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." If we refuse to face the darkness, if we refuse to examine and confront the prejudices that reside within us, then we will continue to perpetuate the very divisions we claim to abhor.

It’s not easy. It’s painful. But that’s exactly why it’s necessary. We cannot expect to change the world around us if we’re not willing to change ourselves. If we’re not willing to sit with the hard stuff, to face the parts of ourselves that we’ve buried deep, then we’ll never move forward. We’ll never grow. We’ll keep repeating the same cycles over and over again, and the darkness will only grow stronger. Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This transformation is not passive—it requires intentionality, reflection, and action. It requires us to face the truth, to confront the parts of our hearts that need healing, and to choose to love as Christ has called us to love.

This world, with all its violence and division, will not heal overnight. We live in a time of great tension, where people seem to be driven more by anger, fear, and division than by love, understanding, and unity. But we are called to do the work, to do what we can, to create a better future for those who will come after us. That work requires more than just good intentions. It demands that we get down to the root of our own hearts, confront our biases, and be willing to tear down the walls we’ve built. The healing of this world starts within each of us. 1 Corinthians 12:14 tells us, "For the body is not one member, but many." In the same way, this world is not one group, one belief, or one culture, but a diverse, interconnected body. For us to heal and grow as a whole, each individual must first be healed. We must commit to seeing others not through the lens of our prejudices or past experiences, but as they truly are—flawed, struggling, yet beautiful human beings, created in the image of God.

That commitment to love requires courage—the courage to question the prejudices we’ve inherited and the willingness to let go of everything that doesn’t serve the greater good. As James 2:1-4 warns us, "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism." When we choose to show favoritism based on someone’s race, their socioeconomic status, or their religion, we are denying the very core of the Gospel message: that every person is worthy of love, respect, and dignity. We must choose to see the value in every human life, regardless of their outward appearance or background. This is not an optional act; this is our calling as people who follow Christ.

This is why we cannot afford to wait for others to fix it. We often look outward, pointing fingers at the government, society, or other groups, blaming them for the world’s problems. But real change starts with us—each individual looking within themselves to see how they are contributing to the problem. Matthew 7:5 says, "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Before we demand change from others, we must first examine our own hearts and our own actions. Are we allowing prejudices to fester in our hearts, whether they are overt or subtle? Are we ignoring the suffering of others simply because it’s inconvenient for us to deal with? Are we justifying our hatred because of the color of someone’s skin, their religion, their nationality, or their beliefs? We need to confront those uncomfortable truths head-on, to take a long, hard look at ourselves. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." If we don’t guard our hearts against these biases, they will seep into everything we say and do.

And that’s where patience comes in—not the passive, hands-off patience that allows us to ignore the issues at hand, but the active, intentional patience that compels us to do the hard work of transforming ourselves. Romans 12:2 urges us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Patience in this sense isn’t just about waiting for change to happen; it’s about working through the discomfort and the struggle of confronting our own flaws. It’s about enduring the growing pains of transformation. Proverbs 14:29 reminds us, "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly." Patience requires understanding—understanding that transformation takes time, that healing comes through difficult conversations, that growth requires us to face our weaknesses.

Patience is also about acting with love and humility, rather than reacting in anger or fear. Colossians 3:12-13 says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." When we choose patience, we are choosing to see beyond the surface and offer grace, even when it’s hard. We choose unity over division, love over hate, and compassion over condemnation. It’s about being willing to take the first step in healing the world by healing our own hearts first.

If we are ever to heal, it starts with us—not in pointing fingers at others, not in shifting blame, but in taking responsibility for how we’ve contributed to the toxic culture of division. Ephesians 4:31-32 urges, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." The call to forgive is not easy, but it is necessary. It’s the very essence of living as Christ did. It’s the decision to move beyond our own woundedness and offer healing to others. We absolutely have to choose kindness, even when we’ve been wronged, and compassion, even when others don’t deserve it. This is what sets us apart as believers—our ability to love in ways the world cannot understand.

It’s time to stop making excuses. We cannot keep blaming others for the state of the world. We have the power, right now, to begin the work of healing. Romans 14:12 tells us, "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." We can no longer claim ignorance or passivity. The truth has been laid bare, and now it’s up to each of us to act. Will we choose to face the truth of our own biases, the darkness that exists within us, and work toward transformation? Will we choose to be patient, not with the systems that perpetuate hatred, but with the process of healing—both in ourselves and in the world around us?

Patience doesn’t mean being passive. It means being actively engaged in the process of change, of growth, and of transformation. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." The patience we’re called to have is not the kind that waits for someone else to act—it’s the kind that drives us to take responsibility, to make real change, and to live out our faith in tangible ways. And that’s what this world needs more than anything right now—the courage to confront our own flaws, the patience to wait for transformation, and the commitment to make the world a better place by starting with ourselves.

Are you willing to do the work? Are you willing to confront your own biases, your own prejudices, and your own hatred? Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, let us settle the matter," declares the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." The time has come. God has revealed the truth. The question now is: how will you respond?

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025

The image is AI generated on chatgpt.