Passages about suffering are not the usual witnessing passages, but they can speak to the heart of a devout Buddhist. It is possible for a member of the Way, a follower of Sun Myung Moon, a Muslim, or a Hindu to be won in one witnessing encounter. It often takes months or even years. Jesus spent three years with the disciples before they understood. God is patient with us.
Patience is one expression of the fruit of the spirit.
Paul's analogy of planting, watering, and growth shows that some propspects require cultivation. They require patience. The impatient thing to do may be to slam the door in their faces. In 1828, a young woman named Emma gave birth to her first child. The child was born deformed and died.