The word "patience" here doesn't mean the ability to thread a needle, but literally means "endurance."  It means bearing up under some load, some challenge.

Are you looking for an easy way, a cheap way, a lazy way to serve God? All honey and no bees? A life of ease?  You just want to say, "O, I'm so happy in Jesus." Listen, this business of running this race means that you're going to be at it with all of your heart.

You may be on a sick bed or in a wheelchair. But none is excluded. We are to run with endurance.  When you watch someone running, do you notice how intense he is? If you're in this race, you need to pray over it, you need to weep over it, you need to study over it, you need to work over it.