Endurance
I truly understand why many people don’t fully understand what long-suffering really means — and why it’s a fruit of the Spirit.
So many view suffering as purely a physical or emotional place — disease, hurt, pain, etc — and while it may include those things at times, it’s not limited to them. Long-suffering is endurance. It’s the capacity to endure and see something through to the end.
One thing about following Christ is that we face many trials, temptations, and moments where we wonder if what we’re doing is enough. Even in good times, we still have to practice long-suffering — learning how to navigate new roles of leadership in positions we’ve prayed for, or even in becoming a new parent, or working through a graduate class toward a degree we’ve dreamed of earning. Through long-suffering and by taking on the posture of Christ, we’re able to endure and keep going.
So next time you’re in a season that’s hard, uncomfortable, or filled with something really challenging, remember — long-suffering doesn’t mean “you have to go through pain” alone or indefinitely or “just take it.” Rather, it’s an invitation to endure while casting those burdens and trying times at the feet of Jesus.
These verses remind me that endurance isn’t just about pushing through it’s about trusting God in the process.
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 40:31
Romans 8:28
Romans 5:5
