Suffering Well

Do Not Grow Weary in Waiting

Depending on which Bible translation you read, you may find the word “longsuffering” listed as a fruit of the Spirit. In modern translations, it’s often displayed as patience or forbearance.

In the original Greek, the word is "makrothumia"—a compound of makros (long) and thymos (anger, passion, temper). It speaks of being slow to anger, enduring hardship or difficult people without giving up, and remaining steadfast when everything in us wants to quit. And let’s be honest…in our culture, in our time, and in our circumstances—this is not easy.

Suffering Does not Always Equal Sin

In Hebrew thought, suffering was commonly linked to personal sin. But Jesus consistently challenged that assumption in the New Testament. In John 9:1–3, when the disciples asked whether the man was born blind because of his sin or his parents’, Jesus answered plainly:
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

In Luke 13:1–5, Jesus referenced the Galileans killed by Pilate and those crushed when the tower of Siloam fell. He made it clear that those tragedies were not because they were the worst sinners.
Instead, He used the moment to call His listeners to live repentantly—not fearfully. In both examples, Jesus dismantles the idea that every hardship or even suffering is punishment. It could be, but not in every circumstance.
He redirects the focus away from blame and toward God’s redemptive work, even in painful circumstances.

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." John 9:3 (CSB)

A Personal Journey Through Suffering

No one desires suffering, and certainly not prolonged suffering. Yet as I prayed one day, the Lord revealed something unexpected: He had called me to endure hardship—but not without Him, and not without purpose. For we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (CSB).

Growing up in a broken home, facing poverty, rejection, and abandonment, I carried years of pain with me—even into seasons of success. I found many things to fill the void, but nothing stuck. I had the "what's next" mentality. Then I met Jesus. As a new believer, I made choices that led to more suffering, but this time I walked through it with a different perspective. Instead of seeing hardship as God’s displeasure, I found myself longing for the promise of Psalm 126:5—that those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Then one day, my prayer shifted. A surprising gratitude rose in my heart:

“Lord, thank You for trusting me to deal with hard stuff,”- said no one ever--which is why I was surprised as I uttered those words as the tears fell. I knew it could only be the Spirit. Love suffering? Not because suffering is good. Not because pain is holy. But because God is faithful, He does not waste what we entrust to Him. Some people walk through hardship and lose hope. Some become consumed by bitterness, fear, or despair. I've also fallen to that. But God preserved me—through moments when my health faltered, and the weight felt unbearable—His aim was not my destruction but His glory and my growth. God used every painful situation for me to grow spiritually and in character.

"God does not waste the pain we entrust to Him."

"Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit, not the strength of the flesh."

Biblically Speaking

In Psalm 42, the psalmist cries out from a place of deep distress, feeling far from God as he longs for His presence in a time of suffering. What shifts everything is remembrance—recalling God’s presence, God’s goodness, and God’s past faithfulness. When we remember, our souls are stirred to praise—even before our circumstances change. This is faith.

In Luke 13:10-17, a woman had been bent over by a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. EIGHTEEN YEARS!
What stands out most is not the duration of her suffering—it’s that she showed up anyway. She came to the synagogue. She came with hope. And Jesus met her there. He sees you the same way. He meets you in the place where you continue to show up with faith—even when the wait feels long.

Only the Holy Spirit can strengthen us to endure hardship with hope. Longsuffering truly is a fruit of the Spirit, not the strength of the flesh. In our flesh, we will give up.

Even Jesus Himself endured suffering beyond anything we can fathom. In the garden of Gethsemane, He experienced such intense anguish that He began to sweat drops of blood—a rare physical response known as hematidrosis, brought on by extreme emotional and physical stress. And yet, in that moment of unimaginable pressure, knowing what He had to endure, Jesus remained fully committed to the Father’s will. His prayer was simple but surrendering:
“Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Gethsemane reminds us that suffering is never the goal—obedience is. Jesus did not glorify the pain of the cross; He even asked if there was another way, but He glorified the Father through His willingness to endure it for our sake. His example shows us that even in our deepest sorrow, God strengthens us, meets us, and carries us so that His will may be revealed in us. Through God's strength, Jesus endured the cross.

We Will Suffer, but Not Alone

Jesus suffered. And because we follow Him, we will face suffering too. But the hope of the believer is found in Romans 8:18-
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed.”

Our story doesn’t end in hardship. Our story ends in glory, in victory, and in the faithful arms of a Father who plans to give us hope, a future, and Himself. This is why Galatians 6 has carried me through some of the hardest seasons. We reap what we sow—
and those who sow to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

So Paul urges us: “Do not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Persevere. Hold steady. Longsuffering is not defeat—it is devotion.

Questions for Your Heart

What are you waiting for the Lord to heal in your life?
What battle feels like it has lasted too long?
Where are you tempted to give up instead of lean in?

1 Peter 5:7 invites us to cast every worry, every care, every burden, and every fear on Him—
because He cares for you. And He truly does.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being near in every season—especially the long and difficult ones. Teach us to wait with hope, to endure with grace, and to trust You when we cannot see past the pain. Strengthen our hearts with the same resolve Jesus showed in Gethsemane, with the ability to glorify Your will above our own. Remind us that You are the God who meets us in the synagogue like the bent woman, who hears our cries like the psalmist, and who sustains us by Your Spirit when our strength runs low.

Help us not grow weary in doing good. Help us remember Your faithfulness. And help us rest in the promise that the glory to come far outweighs the trials we face today. Lord, we cast every burden, fear, worry, and waiting place into Your hands. Carry us, keep us, and complete the work You’ve begun in us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse