Section 5
not exercise forbearance in our family life, we shall not be able to build up our family for the fulfillment of God's purpose. Not only is forbear ance the totality of the proper Christian life, it is also the means given by God for the fulfillment of His threefold purpose with each of us. How precious that the source of forbearance is God! The forbearance we exercise and make known to others comes from God.
SATAN, THE SOURCE OF ANXIETY
The source of anxiety is Satan. Anxiety comes from Satan to frustrate the fulfillment of God's purpose. Do not think that God assigns anxiety to us. Anxiety comes from the circumstances assigned by God. To say that anxiety comes from God's assignment is quite different from say ing that anxiety is God's assignment. Because of the fall, God has assigned sufferings to us. For example, God has ordained that women experi ence suffering in childbearing. He also ordained that men cope with thorns and thistles. Genesis 3:17-19 say, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee…in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat