“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
-Galatians 5:22-23
The Webster dictionary defines longsuffering as “Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked.” This word is an example of the superior language found in the King James translation of the Bible because it delivers a more precise meaning than simply the word “patience,” which refers to endurance of discomfort more broadly. The KJV makes use of both of these words to carefully distinguish the intended meaning of the text, and it is profitable for us to be aware of the specific meanings of the words as we study.
Every instance of the word “longsuffering” in the Old Testament, and most instances in the New Testament, refer to the longsuffering of God. For example, Psalm 86 records a prayer in which David pleads with God on the basis of His longsuffering: “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” This is a good example of how we ought to pray, realizing our shortcoming and dependence on the longsuffering of God. How many times has God in His mercy withheld the fullness of His righteous anger against man’s sin? If God were not longsuffering, we would be destroyed in an instant! Moses prayed a similar prayer on behalf of the disobedient children of Israel in Numbers 14. In this case, Israel had grievously sinned, but God did not utterly destroy them due to His longsuffering. An important note, however, is that this longsuffering did not contradict His righteousness and justice. Although God suffers sin, He does not endorse the sin or neglect judgment.
I also consider the longsuffering of Christ while He was on earth. As is the case with each fruit of the Spirit, Jesus is our ultimate example. We will never know the extent or sum of the injuries, pains, griefs, and afflictions He endured at the hands of men. Even so, He remained gracious to His people and cared for them without fail (John 13:1). “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). Although Christ deserved none of the abuse which He endured, He did endure it to the salvation of His people and the glory of God. What an example!
It is in this sense that Paul uses “longsuffering” as a fruit of the Spirit. When people face any sort of pain, the natural, carnal response is one of aggression (this is even evident in the animal world – a wounded animal is generally much more dangerous than a healthy one). However, we seek to follow Christ. Rather than respond with aggression or rage, we are taught to humbly endure the affliction. Our attitude should be that of Job: “Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
The Apostle Paul prayed that the church would be “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11). This brings us to our final point: we cannot truly be longsuffering if we fail to continue in joy. This is not to say that we enjoy or find pleasure in pain, but instead that we have our pain in its proper perspective. If in affliction we become bitter or irritable, we cease to be longsuffering. However, if we remain joyful, considering the goodness and blessing of God, the present situation will seem to us to be much less significant. What was Paul’s perspective on suffering? “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:28). Brothers and sisters, let us take heart! Be encouraged! Yes, we will suffer in this life. But let’s not lose sight of what Jesus taught, “In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
May our prayer be aligned with David’s prayer in Psalm 86, pleading the longsuffering of God, and also with Paul’s prayer for the Colossians, that we would be strengthened with all might to follow Christ and bear forth the fruit of longsuffering.