Rejoicing in the Sufferings for Christ’s Sake

Rejoicing in the Sufferings for Christ’s Sake

The reason for being happy is that there is something you like or think positively about. But suffering is abhorrent to the natural man and he will do everything he can to avoid it.

When you can still rejoice while suffering, what you are suffering for has to be much more desirable in your eyes than avoiding the suffering. Paul considered everything as rubbish in order to gain Christ and to know the fellowship of His sufferings. Phil. 3:8-10.

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake . . . .” Phil. 1:29.

When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, sitting in the inner prison with their feet in stocks, they prayed at midnight and sang hymns to God. Acts 16:24-34. They had a blessed time and rejoiced in God, in spite of their sufferings. Therefore the sufferings did not rule over Paul and Silas, for their joy was stronger, strengthening them, and making them sing songs of praise. What was it that gave them this joy? It was the fact that they knew they were partaking of the kingdom of heaven and were lords over sin and evil. This became obvious to the keeper of the prison after an earthquake had opened the doors and all the prisoners’ chains were loosed. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Paul did not harbor any vengeful thoughts or a desire for retribution against him who had thrown them into the inner prison and put them in stocks. On the contrary, they showed him sincere love and a desire to help and bless him. Thanks and praise to God in the highest and peace on earth! As a result, the keeper of the prison and his entire household were saved.

We were slaves and in bondage to various lusts and pleasures; we lived in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Tit. 3:3. They tortured and pestered us, and the pain drove us to Christ. All this was the effect of God’s goodness. He promised us liberty from bondage, redemption from prison, and we believed it and rejoiced exceedingly over it. As time went by, we obtained what was promised and our joy was exceedingly great, as is only reasonable when a prisoner and a slave in bondage gains perfect liberty.

When we experience such happiness, we want to make other people happy, and the present tribulations and temptations cannot hinder us, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

There is a tremendous blessing in “receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, [for by it] we will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:17. It is the pinnacle of happiness to have sin and Satan under our feet. Not everyone views it like this, but that does not change the happiness of the person who experiences it. If some people think it is coercion and bondage to live in such devotion to God, and thereby reject it, they actually lack faith. An unbeliever is in darkness, and the person who is in darkness does not know where he is going. People complain, murmur, and put the blame on others; they are disagreeable and bitter, dissatisfied and demanding. But you who live like that must seek help where it can be found, namely, with those who have been helped themselves. They can comfort you and help you and lead you to Christ who came to save His people from their sins and make them happy and glad in Him.