The word “longsuffering” is found sixteen times in the New King James Version of the Bible. The number of occurrences is split almost half-and-half – nine times the word is used of the longsuffering of God toward man, and seven times the word is used of God’s expectations for man to be longsuffering with his fellowman.
God’s longsuffering is almost always coupled with His mercy, for God waits and waits and waits and waits for man to do right, patiently enduring and suffering long for man to change his ways. Peter said, “Consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Pet. 3:15).
As a result, God expects His people to be longsuffering toward others. This is to be done “with all lowliness and gentleness” (Eph. 4:2) and must be exercised “with joy” (Col. 1:11). True longsuffering “bears with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2). Thank God that He has been longsuffering with us! How long (or short) is your longsuffering with others?