Learning: From Paul on Persecution

Why doesn't God always take away our pain? Why does life sometimes seem harder after becoming a Christian?  Can our trials really be used for good? How can we find happiness in them?  

In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul writes…

 ^"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10  

     In this life we can expect to suffer. We know that at some point we will face trials and we be persecuted in some way or another. Why? Because Jesus was. Is he not greater than we? Are we not to mirror our lives to his as best we can? And where is our hope in our suffering?

First a thought:

To find happiness in our trials we must appreciate them as a gift and understand that whatever we are going through God will ultimately use for his glory.

"Paul reckoned his great trial to be a gift. It is well-put. He does not say, "There was inflicted on me a thorn in the flesh," but "There was given to me." This is holy reckoning. Child of God, among all the goods of your house, you have not one single article that is a better token of divine love to you than your daily cross. Whatever would be good for you, Christ's grace is sufficient to bestow. Whatever would harm you, his grace is sufficient to avert. Whatever you desire, His grace is sufficient to give, if it be good for you. Whatever you would avoid, His grace can shield you from it if His wisdom shall dictate." C H Spurgeon

     We trust in God so why do we suffer anyway, especially after we are saved? Because we are not of this world. Once we are saved we have a new identity in Christ:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15:18-20 

^"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master." Matthew 10:22-24

     Where is our hope in all of this?

The Beatitudes
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Matthew 5:10-12

     When our own strength is exhausted by suffering, we can clearly see that true strength is rooted in God’s power and that true courage is inspired by his love.

“To be serious about following Christ means suffering for Christ. The more serious we become about being salt and light in the world, the more devoted we will become to mission and justice, the more concerned for the least and the lost, the more stubborn about forgiving those who don’t want our forgiveness, the more determined about exposing the works of darkness -- and the more we will suffer. And yet, ironically, if ever we’ve suffered in this way for the sake of Christ, then we know the power of weakness, that spiritual force and joy of obedience that energizes us to endure the suffering with grace. It is what enabled Paul to declare, "I delight in weaknesses, I am content in insults, I am glad with hardships, in persecutions and in distress that I suffer for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." Daniel Harrell, Park Street Church, Boston

     Spiritual burdens are allowed in hopes to cure us of our pride so that no one could attribute their success to their own talents. When we keep pushing on through our weakness people begin to truly see the light of God through us. That is the way that ‘In our weakness he is made greater’. Our hope is in the sufficiency of his free grace and the promise that he brings. We must remember that he will never give us more than we can handle with his help and lastly that we are never alone!

^“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Today I challenge you to count your blessings and to thank God for your trials, and for the wisdom, conviction and passion that they will someday bring. Take up your cross with joy.

Love always!

P-John