Via TJC
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
~Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
This week we are looking at the rest of the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5.
Forbearance is a character trait that means being patient with someone who has made a mistake that costs you. (Because if it doesn’t cost you, there is nothing to forbear.) Forbearance is the act of abstaining or holding back, and it can also mean choosing not to retaliate when wronged.
I am an ambitious man, and early in my career, I set my sights on becoming a B-2 stealth bomber pilot. My path wasn't conventional, but I overcame obstacles and secured an opportunity to apply for the program from the General in charge of all combat aircraft in the Air Force. With the support of my wife and leadership, I pursued this dream for five months, only to face an unexpected roadblock.
Two weeks before my interview, I needed my base commander's signature to finalize my application. We had discussed my journey, and I anticipated her support. However, when we met, she expressed discomfort in signing the package, despite acknowledging my efforts. She didn’t believe I was the right person for the program and even suggested I might understand her hesitation because, as a Black man, I should relate to the closed doors she faced as a woman in the Air Force.
Her refusal left me stunned. Months of hard work and support from the B-2 leadership were unraveling due to her discomfort. Despite advice to send the package without her signature or to open an HR investigation, I chose neither. It didn’t feel right, and I still had a year left at that base.
Looking back, I see that God blessed this experience. He honored my decision not to retaliate, guiding me through healing with the help of my wife. He opened doors beyond what I could have imagined, blessing both my career and my marriage. While my commander couldn’t have foreseen these outcomes, I believe God used this situation to grow me and bless my forbearance. Most importantly, He strengthened my witness. Forbearance is a form of worship and demonstrates God’s goodness. I didn’t know people were watching until they told me how they felt about the “injustice”. They admired my response, because they would have acted differently.
Daily Battle Order: Kingdom Man, forbearance like all of the Fruits of the Spirit is real power. As Rosa Parks once said regarding Martin Luther King Jr., “His restraint is more powerful than 100 fists.” Exercise forbearance today. Ask your family how they were able to worship the Lord through forbearance.
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