I love the way the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) puts Proverbs 16:32, Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
I think the people today who would say that patience is better than power are likely few and far between. We live in a world that is hungry for power. People can become obsessed with being the best, the
greatest, the top dog, and it’s amazing what some people are willing to do to get that power as quickly as possible. They’ll fudge on their morals, alienate their loved ones, and even throw other people under the bus in pursuit of power. For so many, patience just isn’t even on their radar.
In this verse, and many other places in Scripture, we see how important it is for us to have patience. We know that God’s timing doesn’t always line up with ours. And, frustrating as it can be, in those times all we can do is wait. Sometimes we have to wait to see our plans come to fruition. We have to wait for God to answer our prayers. We have to wait for our dreams and goals to come true. So much of this life involves waiting. No matter how much power we can achieve, waiting is just a part of life. That, I think, is why Solomon said that patience is better than power.
So, whatever you do this week, do it with patience.