Long suffering. It’s not glamorous. It doesn’t go viral. It doesn’t get the applause. Long suffering is choosing patience when you’d rather snap back. It’s continuing to love people who are difficult to love. It’s remaining faithful while waiting on God. It’s enduring trials without giving up. We often pray for God to remove the struggle, but sometimes He’s using the struggle to produce something in us that comfort never could. The world tells us to cut people off the moment they become inconvenient. Scripture tells us to bear with one another, forgive one another, and trust God through the process. Long suffering doesn’t mean becoming someone’s doormat or staying in abusive situations. It means having the strength to endure hardship, show grace, and remain faithful without becoming bitter. God has been incredibly long suffering with me. The least I can do is extend some of that same grace to others. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” — Galatians 5:22 (KJV)