Long render times can be really frustrating. In this case it was due to the spotlight being set at raytraced shadows. Raytracing can look really good but there at the cost of time. Spotlights and pointlights raytraced take longer because the render software makes calculations for numerous directions. While a spotlight shines in a specific direction it creates a cone growing outward from it's source thus making the software calculate everything withing the path of the cone.

A raytraced distant light on the other hand takes significantly less time because the software is tasked with only one direction. Raytraced pointlights placed in a tight spot can make for insanely long renders.

The deep shadow map option can produce very nice shadows especially with spotlights. Akhbour made a video on basic light set up you might find useful.

http://www.akhbours.fr/html/tutorials.html

Keep at it, all will fall into place before long ;)