“Strengthened with all might unto all patience” (Col. i. 11).
The apostle prays for the Colossians, that they may be “strengthened with
all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and
long-suffering with joyfulness.” It is one thing to endure and show the
strain on every muscle of your face, and seem to say with every wrinkle,
“Why does not somebody sympathize with me?” It is another to endure the
cross, “despising the shame” for the joy set before us.
There are some trees in the garden of the Lord which “shall not see when
heat cometh”; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, nor cease
from yielding fruit. Let us set our faces toward the sunrising and use the
clouds that come, to make rainbows. Not much longer shall we have the
glorious opportunity to rejoice in tribulation, and learn patience. In
heaven we shall have nothing to teach long-suffering. If we do not learn
it here, we shall be without our brightest crown forever, and wish
ourselves back for a little while, in the very circumstances of which we
are now trying so hard to get rid.