Good morning people who learn to trust God in the difficult seasons of life.

Romans 12:12 NIV Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

There are some things that it is easy to be patient for. There are other things that it is exceptionally difficult to be patient for and patient in. Let’s look at this today.

Trusting God is the essence of being patient in affliction. Our heart posture and what we say and do in the midst of affliction gives evidence as to whether we truly trust God or not. This has everything to do with patience and longsuffering.

When we take a test, there is a pass or a fail mark. Patience is a pass mark when it comes to the test of our faith.

James 1:2-4 NIV 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.

Facing trials of many kinds is a test of our faith. It is an opportunity to see if we believe what we say we believe when everything is going well. Perseverance – patience and longsuffering – is the intended outcome of these recurring times in our lives.

The beautiful part of God’s design is this: When we respond Godward in times when it would be easy to give up, God is using this to mature us and to complete us. In these times of patience in suffering, the following scripture is being outworked:

Romans 8:28 NIV 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.

I must remind us that patience and longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit. This is not about us willing ourselves on and relying on our own strength – that’s not how the fruit of the Spirit works. This is about us remaining in the Spirit and relying on His strength, His power and His patience.