Longsuffering is a quality that can be taken for granted, but it is an invaluable practice in life. It builds endurance and resilience, cultivates patience and understanding, and develops character. Learning to lead a life of longsuffering can transform our lives for the better. Join us as we explore how to use longsuffering for lasting change and offer tips to apply it in our lives. At the end of this journey, you’ll gain new tools to build your character through love in action. Let’s get started!
WHAT IS LONGSUFFERING
Longsuffering is a powerful form of love that involves caring for someone even when it is difficult. It is often used in reference to the Fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23. In this passage, longsuffering is defined as being patient and enduring while forgiving others, even when they do not deserve it. It means actively choosing to show patience and mercy no matter what comes our way. Longsuffering allows us to move beyond grudges and negative feelings, instead embracing hope and growth through God’s grace and peace.
An example of this is in the Bible with Joseph’s story in Genesis (37-50). God blessed Joseph with favor, power, and freedom after showing mercy despite being sold into slavery and thrown into jail. By living a life of longsuffering, we can demonstrate true love towards others. We can also experience the joys of reconciliation and restoration that come with making amends with those we may have hurt or wronged in the past.
Forgiving from the heart, despite circumstances, is a fruit of longsuffering. But something larger helps us endure difficulties and build better relationships. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14 Jesus taught that forgiveness is essential and reflects the love of God in our lives. Forgiveness demonstrates our faith in God’s guidance and power over all things, helping us stay on the path of righteousness. So, let’s never forget that forgiveness from the heart pleases God.
WHY LONGSUFFERING MATTERS
Longsuffering matters because it helps us to stay grounded in our faith. It encourages us to trust in God’s plan, even when things are difficult and we don’t understand why they are happening. By being longsuffering, we show that we believe in the power of prayer and God’s ultimate purpose for our lives. The Apostle Paul speaks to this in his epistle. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3
We don’t give up easily or turn to despair; instead, we remain focused on the Lord despite obstacles and pain. In addition, Longsuffering sets an excellent example for others, inspiring them to press on in their struggles with courage and patience. Finally, it reminds us that even when difficulties arise, God remains faithful to those who diligently seek Him. Through perseverance, He grants us His mercy and grace as rewards for our effort. In this way, longsuffering demonstrates our faithfulness to Him and our commitment to living according to His will.
HOW TO PRACTICE LONGSUFFERING
Practicing longsuffering in everyday life requires patience and self-control. We can start by setting reasonable expectations for ourselves and being unwilling to compromise our principles. When facing difficult situations, we should remain focused on the positive outcomes and not allow fear or doubt to cloud our judgment.
It’s important to remember that God equips us with all the strength we need in order to endure any trial and He will never give us more than what we can handle. Also, it is important to keep an attitude of thankfulness even during hard times. We can use prayer as a tool to help us focus on God’s sovereignty over all things and trust Him even when things aren’t going our way. Finally, having a strong community of fellow believers who can offer support is helpful for developing perseverance and keeping our spirits up when we face hardships.
Here are some ways to practice longsuffering:
- Set reasonable expectations for yourself and remain steadfast in your values.
- Focus on the positive outcomes of a situation rather than the negatives.
- Remember that God will not give us more than what we can handle.
- Remain thankful, even during hard times.
- Use prayer as a means to focus on God’s sovereignty and trust Him.
- Have a strong community of fellow believers to offer support.
CHALLENGES OF LONGSUFFERING
Practicing longsuffering can be challenging, but it is an essential part of life. It requires patience and self-control to not react in the heat of the moment when faced with trials. Furthermore, we must remember that God loves us and will equip us with everything we need to endure any trial. Fear and doubt can cloud our judgment, so its important to focus on the positive outcomes instead. It takes faith and trust in God’s sovereignty over all things in order to persevere during difficult times.
The Bible is full of examples on the value of longsuffering. In Romans 5:3-4 it reads, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” This scripture emphasizes the importance of seeing suffering as a learning experience rather than despair and fear. Philippians 4:13 states that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. These scriptures are a reminder to have faith during hard times and trust that God will use even difficult times for His glory. Having patience and continuing to serve Him faithfully will help us overcome any challenge in our lives.
EXPRESSING LOVE
Expressing love through longsuffering is a key component on the path to healthy relationships. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reminds us that love is patient and kind, never envious nor boastful, and it always protects and trusts others. This scripture reminds us that in order to show true love to someone, we must be willing to bear with them and forgive their shortcomings. Romans 12:9 teaches that we should show hospitality to others without grumbling or murmuring. In addition, we should be slow to anger and seek peace with everyone. This means having patience when dealing with difficult people or challenging circumstances. A few helpful suggestions for having patience when dealing with difficult people are:
- Being kind and understanding, even when someone is acting out of anger.
- Taking a deep breath and counting to ten before responding in a challenging situation.
- Listening without judgement, even if you do not agree with what someone is saying.
- Avoiding sarcasm or criticism when communicating with difficult people
Lastly, Galatians 5:22-23 talks about the fruit of the Spirit being “love, joy, peace, patience” which are all essential for any lasting relationship. In conclusion, showing love through longsuffering requires us to be humble, patient and kind even in times of adversity so that we may bear much fruit in our lives.
DEVELOPING ENDURANCE
By building endurance, we develop longsuffering which is vital to our emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing. Scripture encourages us to be patient and slow to anger. As Proverbs 15:18 states, “A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but the one who is slow to anger quiets contention.” Having patience and resilience helps us build endurance over time, leading to greater capacity for joy and contentment in life. We can build up endurance by observing our responses in challenging moments and utilizing strategies like deep breathing, positive self-talk, and mindful reacting. In addition, patience offers the opportunity to foster empathy and understanding in relationships while helping maintain a sense of stability.
There can be no greater demonstration of love than patience and longsuffering, which is why they are so important. With endurance and determination, we can all put love into action by developing longsuffering in our lives.
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