The Fruit Of The Spirit: Longsuffering

“²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

— Galatians 5:22-23 KJV

The fourth characteristic listed among the 9 in the fruit of the Spirit is: Longsuffering.

In the Bible, longsuffering means having a very long temper. It is the choice to stay calm, show mercy, and hold back anger for a long time, even when people hurt or test you.

Longsuffering Original Meaning

• Comes from the Greek word makrothumia.
• Combines words for "long" and "temper" or "wrath".
• Means having a "long fuse" before getting upset.
• Means being slow to pay back an injury or insult.

God's Example

God shows great longsuffering toward people.

He waits patiently for people to turn away from bad things and trust Him.

“And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”

— Exodus 34:6 KJV

For Believers

Christians are told to treat others with this same patience.

It helps people get along in families, churches, and workplaces.

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

— Proverbs 14:29 KJV

Longsuffering is a word not used very often anymore, other more modern Bible translations use words like "forbearance" or "patience" instead. But it is an interesting word that is used in the King James Version: Longsuffering.

To suffer long. Longsuffering means patiently enduring difficult circumstances and difficult people without giving up, losing our temper, seeking revenge, or becoming bitter.

And one of the most amazing things about longsuffering is that this is how the Bible describes God Himself.

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

— Psalm 86:15 KJV

Think about how longsuffering God has been with us.

How many times have we sinned?

How many times have we failed?

How many times have we known what was right and still done the opposite?

Yet God has shown us incredible patience, mercy, and grace.

The Bible says:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

— 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

God's longsuffering even plays a part in giving sinners time to repent and turn to Him.

And if the Holy Spirit lives within us, that same characteristic should increasingly become visible in our own lives.

That usually does NOT happen overnight.

Remember, fruit has a growing and ripening process.

As we walk with God and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, He develops greater patience in us, with our families, our friends, difficult people, difficult circumstances, and even situations that seem to be taking much longer than we would like.

Point To Ponder

Longsuffering means having a "long fuse" before getting upset, and being slow to pay back an injury or insult.

Question To Consider

Is there a person or situation in my life where God may be teaching me to become more longsuffering?

Quick Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your incredible longsuffering, mercy, and patience toward me. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to become more longsuffering toward others. When people frustrate me, hurt me, disappoint me, or test my patience, help me to have a long fuse, to be slow to anger, quick to forgive, and unwilling to seek revenge.

Help me to patiently endure difficult people and difficult circumstances without becoming angry, bitter, or discouraged.

I cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit in my own strength. I need You, Lord. Please continue to grow and ripen the fruit of longsuffering in my life, so that I may treat others with the same patience, mercy, and grace that You have shown toward me.

In the mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

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Success Story Of The Day (Freedom)

“Some birds aren't meant to be caged.”

— Ellis Boyd, "Red" Redding, The Shawshank Redemption

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He spent nearly 20 years behind bars.

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— Proverbs 22:7 NIV

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