But then the following verses speak even more to us. We are to demonstrate particular strengths in adversity and in hardship.
Patience means, with perseverance, with endurance. If you live for Christ and for the gospel and you seek avenues of service for him and you witness for him, you are going to face troubles. People are going to oppose you. The devil is going to oppose you. Even at a practical level, you are going to make difficulties for yourself. You have got to earn your living, you have got to look after your family, you have got to decorate the house, you have got to do all manner of things but, at the same time, you want to serve the Lord and you want to have a Sunday School and visit the community and do other things with the people of God. You are going to have trouble, even in fitting it all together, even before people turn against you and you have problems within the family, beyond the family, in your place of business. But if you are going to be part of this ministry of reconciliation – and this is what God has called us all to be involved in – you must be ready to face these pressures, these problems and these straits. So, he says, you have got to pray for grace to have much patience.