Long-suffering
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The fruit of the spirit is the characteristics that are produced as a result of spending time with God, and they will manifest when we give Him total control of our lives.
Although I thought that I would go through the fruit of the spirit in order, God changed my mind.
I have been pretty transparent with you in the fact that I have been struggling with different areas of my life. One of those areas has been my job. There is no need for me to go into detail, but I was in a situation that I knew was not right for me. It is also no secret that teachers in general have struggled this last year due to COVID. However, after a year of being in a situation that wore me down, God has redirected my steps. I have a new teaching position, and a new exciting challenge ahead. I have reached the finish line, and God has changed my situation.
A year may be short in comparison to what some of you may be going through, and my situation would not seem terrible to most people. Some of you may have been praying for a situation to change for years, and have still not seen a breakthrough.
It’s difficult to see while you are in the situation, but God has a reason. God is preparing you for something greater. Suffering equips us and we will see His glory when we endure.
Long suffering means to endure hardship with patience. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (TLB) says when “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.”
Hannah, Naomi, Job, the people of Israel, and many more people that we read about in the Bible endured hardship. But they did it all with Christ. Did they complain? Did they plead? Did they question? Sure they did, we do too. Grumbling and complaining can part of our human nature. But all of these people that we read about endured, and had a glorious story to tell when they made it through. They didn’t give up, even when they wanted to. They saw the finish line. This is long suffering.
I’m not sure that I finished well, but I made it. I endured. I say all of this to give you hope that God will make a way. He will see you through to the end. And even if you still have to endure the trial, He is there helping you through it.
Hannah held that precious baby in her arms, Naomi’s hope was restored, Job was blessed with abundance, the people of Israel saw the promised land. I’m believing for your miracle too.
Lord, thank you for the story that I will be able to tell when I pass through this valley. Thank you for walking beside me every step of the way. I pray that you help me to endure. Renew my fighting spirit and help me reach the finish line.
Journal prompt: Is there a situation that I have been waiting for God to change? What steps have I taken to change my situation? Have I surrendered this situation fully to Him?
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