Long-suffering

Long-suffering

This hard place in which you perhaps find yourself is the very place in which God is giving you opportunity to look only to Him, to spend time in prayer, and to learn long-suffering . . . to learn the depths of the love that Christ Himself has poured out on all of us.

Elisabeth Elliot

Practice the fruit of the Spirit—become a long-suffering person. Every time you exhibit endurance in the middle of your hard place, you please Me. Patience is difficult when you are waiting for a positive outcome, a more favorable financial situation, or better health, or for children to follow Me or a spouse to return to Me. Your suffering seems to last forever. But remember that long-suffering is the opposite of despair. It’s waiting with hope.

Paul was encouraged by the long-suffering Thessalonians when he wrote: “We are always thankful as we pray for you all, for we never forget that your faith has meant solid achievement, your love has meant hard work, and the hope that you have in our Lord Jesus Christ means sheer dogged endurance in the life that you live before God” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, Phillips). I am watching as you demonstrate perseverance in the face of great challenges. Your deep love for Me is evidenced by your trust in the middle of adversity. In due time you will be rewarded.

Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power for all patience and longsuffering with joy.

Colossians 1:10-11, NKJV