But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NASB
When we look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit, there is one that jumps out to me more than the others. It lands right in the middle of the list and it's called 'patience'. The other term for patience is "long-suffering". The word means waiting sufficient time before expressing anger or passion. Hence the term "long-suffering" or "suffering a long time". The word implies that some sort of suffering or trial has come upon us and we are suffering longer than most before "exploding", or perhaps never exploding. Only God Himself expresses patience perfectly, but the Holy Spirit inside of us is producing the fruit of patience in our life. But here is the interesting thing about this specific fruit: it requires trials and sufferings in order to be expressed. All the rest of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5 can be exercised at all times, in good times and bad. We can be kind in good times and bad, we can be joyful in any season of life, we can be gentle at all times. But the very word "patience" requires suffering or trials to take place in order to be produced. Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this life (John 16:33), and Peter reminds us to not be surprised by the fiery trials that come upon is (1 Peter 4:12). One of the reasons why to not be surprised is not only because Jesus said we would experience trials, it goes deeper than that. We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us desiring to conform us to the image of Christ by producing His fruit through us. That means that the Spirit must allow trials and suffering to happen so that the precious fruit of patience will be produced in us. What does this look like for us today? If our patience is being tested right now, it means that we are in a season of growth. Patience is always linked to growth, and growth is impossible without patience. In the book of James, we see the reason for trials is so that our endurance and patience may come to completion and maturity. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 NASB The Holy Spirit wants us to grow up into the full stature of Christ, and He is working endlessly to see that happen. This means that we need to find encouragement and joy in the midst of our seasons of trial, knowing that something big is right around the corner for us. The trials and sufferings that Christ experienced were meant to destroy Him and keep Him from the cross. Yet, Jesus said: "I have overcome the world". The same Holy Spirit that was in Christ is now living in us desiring to accomplish the same type of victory in our lives. Look beyond the trials and see the sovereign plan of God at work in your life. Questions to Consider: 1. Are you facing trials right now in your life that you are struggling to patiently suffer through? How can you be encouraged that the Holy Spirit has a plan to produce patience in you? 2. Out of the list of the fruits of the Spirit, my biggest struggles right now are patience and self-control. Which ones are you struggling with the most right now?
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