Longsuffering There is Such A Thing

There are more than 14 passages in the bible that speak to longsuffering. And yet biblical translations omit the word altogether. Somehow rarely on Sunday mornings are we dealing with the nature and character of God, which includes longsuffering. 

Longsuffering - To have patience, to show patience, amid troubles, hardships, and adversity caused by one's own decisions and behaviors and, in turn, those caused by others.

In today's society, we are supposed to will and think our way out of suffering. Ask any guru, inspirational speaker or even some pastor. There should be no such thing; however, as Christians, we should never think we are above longsuffering; we can't outthink suffering. The Bible teaches us -

The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18, KJV

The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6, KJV)

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) 

Are we above God? God Forbid. We must enrich ourselves with the word daily so that we remember the bible consist of the old and new testament. Testaments validate that the emotions and feelings we have along this journey are normal, that we are not the first and we won't be the last. 

Letters from Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians teach us longsuffering is just a part of our journey.  To be faithful unto God is to suffer, endure some things, and walk through the hard days. When the days are hard, and you are feeling despondent, depressed, or numb, taking your life is not an option; getting out of the fight is not always the first option you should look for it is in these places that we find who we are, our strength, and ability to endure. 

LongSuffering Hall of Fame 

1. Job - Job loses everything in Chapter 1. It takes 42 chapters to recover all. Satan consider him and thought that he was going to give in. Like the G.O.A.T he says, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. (Check It Out: Job)

2. Jeremiah - Jeremiah lived in the world we are in today. The age of idolatry, false prophets, the age where nations are changing their gods, people changing their glory for no profit. And yet, in his lament (Lam 3), "I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He has led me and brought me into darkness, not light." Yet by the time the chapter is over, he says, "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord"

3. Ruth - Ruth's husband dies, her sister-in-law leaves her, and she is left to care for an old woman. She must deal with the old woman's depression and figure out how to fight for their survival. She toils and labors in the fields daily before Boaz sees her. (Ruth 1 - 4) 

4. Woman With Issue of Blood - Bleeding for 12 years straight. Can you imagine, ladies? Yet, she endured. She sought out Christ and touched the hem of his garment, and she was made whole.  (Luke 8) 

5. Jesus - Jesus suffered a horrendous 3 days of anguish and ultimate death. Fighting and suffering to save man kinds soul. Read a gospel. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all give an account of his longsuffering throughout his ministry when he was in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted by Satan. And yet before he died, he stated, "It is finished." 

6. The Disciples - The disciples suffered after the death of Jesus while preaching the gospel; even in their deaths, they suffered. We know this through historical accounts as well as the bible. 

 As part of our walk, we must take on the behavior of longsuffering. I have to believe that part of the jewels on the crown of life is attributed to those who put on patience and suffered long. To speak metaphorically, there has never been a king or queen who has worn a crown without suffering. So let us not be weary in well doing. Let us be faithful until the end. Let us remember to keep our eye on the God that loves, the Christ that saves, and the Holy Spirit that strengthens and whispers to us to keep going for a crown of life that waits for us in the city not made by hand. 

Prayer 

Grant us the strength and patience to handle our lives in grace. We are not always prepared for what life brings, at moments, it can be a trying exercise. As you gave Job, Jeremiah, Ruth, the Woman with the Issue of Blood, Jesus, and the Disciples the ability to endure, you strengthen them for their purpose. Help us in this hour to face this old world, to face our lives, to face our families. Help us to be the men and women of God you called us to be so that we may be your bondservants growing in love and abounding in the faith. Amen