Long-Suffering

While some believers often view long-suffering as a curse or burden from God, it is both surprising and comforting to realize that long-suffering is actually one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Most Bible translations use the terms “patience” or “endurance” in place of “long-suffering,” yet the Greek New Testament more frequently uses the word “long-suffering,” with “patience” appearing only a few times. The original Greek term is makrothumia, which literally means “long-tempered.” It conveys a deeply emotional quality—suggesting a person who is slow to anger or possesses a “long mood” or a calm, enduring mind.

In today’s context, we often struggle to understand or accept emotional fluctuations—like the mood swings experienced by those with bipolar disorder. These are sometimes misattributed to demonic influence or dismissed as being outside God’s design. Yet it is comforting to see that emotional endurance, or long-suffering, is in fact a spiritual fruit that reflects the nature of the Holy Spirit.

To truly understand the fruits of the Holy Spirit, it is important to distinguish them from the gifts of the Spirit. While the gifts are direct manifestations of the Spirit’s power working through us, the fruits are cultivated through our personal cooperation with God’s work in our lives. They are not automatic or instant, but rather the result of how we respond to adversity and how deeply we commit ourselves to God. Through enduring difficult environments and situations with love and faith, we grow to bear the fruits described below:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23 (ASV)

Chronic Illness And Unsolved Problems

Beyond emotional struggles, many people face persistent problems and prolonged illnesses that weigh heavily on them. These long-term trials often stir deep emotional distress, leading sufferers to question God’s goodness and integrity. Such situations can be exploited by the devil, who seeks to misdirect God’s teachings and hinder our understanding of His purpose. The enemy’s aim is to keep us from learning the lessons God intends to show through our suffering.

While endurance and patience are often linked to long-suffering, many view them merely as its byproducts. However, the book of James presents another perspective—considering long-suffering as a testing ground for faith that produces perseverance. As James writes:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4 (NIV)

James seems to suggest that through trials God tests our faith, but this idea can be misunderstood. Some believe that God tests us to measure our faith, referencing how He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. But God, being omniscient, does not need to test us to know the quality or quantity of our faith. Jesus Himself described faith as something that can be as small as a mustard seed in size, yet perfect in its power when placed in God. Moreover, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith—He both initiates and completes it.

So what then is the purpose of these tests or long-suffering? It is not that God is harshly training us to develop patience and endurance. Rather, through long-suffering, God reveals to us the true state of our faith. These experiences become a mirror—not for God, who already knows us completely, but for us, so we may understand whether our faith is strong or weak.

Take the example of Abraham. God already knew the strength of his faith and decided to bless his offsprings.  But by allowing Abraham to go through the trial of offering Isaac, God revealed to Abraham the kind of faith that would fulfill the promise of numerous descendants. Abraham believed that even if he sacrificed Isaac, God would raise him from the dead to keep His promise (Hebrews 11:17-19). That is the kind of faith long-suffering helps bring to light—not just endurance or patience, but a deep, sustaining trust in God. 

Remarkably, Abraham did not go through his trial to develop patience; rather, by obeying God without hesitation, he came to recognize that the faith within him was initiated by God and would ultimately fulfill its purpose. What we must learn from this is that true obedience to God, when rooted in total surrender, does not demand endurance as much as it requires wholehearted commitment.

In the end, long-suffering does more than shape our character—it exposes the faith that carries us through, revealing both its depth and its source.

The Process of Understanding Our Own Faith

While we have begun to understand that long-suffering is not a tool God uses to test us, it is instead the result of our commitment to Him. This commitment produces the fruit of the Spirit within us. Often, we wonder why God allows suffering. But it’s essential to realize that suffering, when endured with faith, is not merely something God permits—it is a fruit of the Spirit that reveals the true condition of our faith.

This fruit—long-suffering—has a transformative power. As Psalm 84:5–6 tells us, it can turn the valley of Baca (a place of weeping) into springs of blessing. It allows us to turn evil intentions into good outcomes (Romans 12:21, Genesis 50:20). Ultimately, long-suffering works for the well-being of every believer.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

When we face injustice and trials, it is this fruit of the Spirit—long-suffering—that helps us remain steadfast, trusting that God will bring the truth to light. Without it, we may waver in fear and uncertainty, unsure of what lies ahead.

For those suffering from chronic illness—a burden that can persist for years—long-suffering is not simply about enduring pain. It is a spiritual fruit that helps the believer see the Holy Spirit at work, preserving their salvation and guiding them toward eternal life. However, this does not mean we are destined to die—but rather, to live for Christ. Jesus Himself prayed to the Father, not to take us out of the world, but to protect us from the deception of the devil (John 17:15), until the fruit of long-suffering shapes and prepares us to receive the eternal life that God has stored up for us.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)

In other words, without this fruit, obeying God becomes difficult in a fallen world. But when long-suffering—the fruit of the Spirit—is present, obedience becomes easier than disobedience. Jesus found joy in fulfilling His Father’s will (Hebrews 12:2b), and it was this fruit that sustained Him. He is the only one in whom all the fruits of the Holy Spirit are perfectly found. The author of Hebrews encourages us to cultivate the same fruit—long-suffering—that Jesus demonstrated in enduring opposition from sinners. This fruit silences the discouragement sown by the devil, revealing that chronic illness is not just a test of endurance, but a path that, in God’s hands, leads to eternal glory. As Paul boldly declared:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. – Philippians 1:21-22(a) (NIV)

This faithful confidence flows from the fruit of the Spirit—long-suffering. It is bitter to the devil because he knows that whether we live or die, we belong to God and will dwell with Him forever. Through our salvation, we continue to grow and bear the fruit of the Spirit, which secures our place in God’s eternal family.

If we continue to view our Christian walk only as suffering, we give the devil room to discourage and deceive us. But when we understand God’s agape love and allow our long-suffering to be transformed into a fruit of the Holy Spirit, then nothing can separate us from His love.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. – Romans 8:35–37 (NIV)