Colossians 3:13 — Bearing With One Another

13 bearing with one another and dealing graciously among yourselves…

There is no knowledge of good without knowledge of evil. That is a universal biblical principle. We learn to appreciate everything good only through contrast. How could forbearance ever become evident without adversity? Or without people who behave in difficult, unreasonable, or even “impossible” ways? If everyone were always kind and easy to get along with, there would be nothing to bear.

That is precisely why difficult people and difficult circumstances are not mistakes. God places them in our path. Not to make us bitter, but to train us in forbearance and make the new humanity visible. Not in spite of such people, but precisely through them, God shapes our thinking and disposition in accord with Christ. After all, forbearance remains hidden as long as there is nothing to bear. Difficult people are precisely what give forbearance the opportunity to become visible. That is also what distinguishes this from the way the world responds.

The world responds to irritations with complaining, blame, and bitterness. But those who come to understand God’s grace also learn to respond differently. Those who believe that God causes all things to work together for good no longer see difficult people as obstacles, but as instruments in God’s hand. Disappointments and opposition then become opportunities to show what God’s grace can accomplish. That insight even teaches us to give thanks for the “minuses.” For grace turns minuses into pluses.

Share: