Patience is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We need the grace of God to develop patience in our lives. Long-suffering is a virtue we need when impatience and anger takes control of our lives. Cultivating patience shows our readiness to “suffer long”. As confirmed Catholics, we should be resilient and patient, waiting for God’s plan to unfold in our lives in His time and His way.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Patience as well as long-suffering is required of us when we are trusting God to intervene in our difficulties. God has His own hour and day and is never in a hurry. He always tells us to “wait awhile and see what I will do”. It is in waiting that we develop endurance, longsuffering, and the ability to trust God even when things go the other way. However, we can wait joyfully knowing that he will deliver us in due time. Long-suffering also has to do with our ability to endure when people try our patience. How do you react when people hurt you? Our disposition towards others when they hurt us shows whether we are patient and long-suffering and whether we are willing to yield to the will of God in our lives. When the times are tough, trust God and see it as a period to grow in patience and other fruits of the spirit. Stick to His word even when it is hard for you to do so. Patience and long-suffering shapes our Christian character.