We often associate "divine power" with the spectacular—the parting of seas or the falling of fire. But the Apostle Paul had a different prayer for the believers in Colossae.

He prayed that they would be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power”.

You would expect the next sentence to be about raising the dead. Instead, Paul reveals the true fruit of divine strength:

“...unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” Colossians 1:11

The Greek word for patience here is (hupomone) ὑπομονή, which means "endurance" or "steadfastness" in adverse circumstances. The word for longsuffering is (makrothumia) μακροθυμία—from (makros) μακρός meaning "long" and (thumos) θυμός meaning "temper." It literally means having a "long temper" with difficult people.

It takes more "glorious power" to stay joyful while being cut off in traffic than it does to perform a miracle. It takes divine strength to be kind to a domestic worker or a difficult colleague when they don't "deserve" it.

God gives us His (dunamis) δύναμις—"power"—not just so we can change our circumstances, but so we can remain unchanged by them.

When you are patient with joy, you are displaying the highest form of spiritual maturity. You are showing that your fulfillment comes from the act of loving, not the reward of being appreciated.

Real power is the ability to stay kind when you have every reason not to be.