In his book Tortured for Christ, Richard Wurmbrand described being imprisoned for fourteen years in Romania for speaking openly about Jesus. “Whoever was caught [preaching to other prisoners] received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price . . . so we accepted [the guards’] terms.”
We may not experience imprisonment or torture, but our culture doesn’t always have much respect for what we believe. We may be ignored, mocked and rejected—even by loved ones. That’s why we need the same resilience as Wurmbrand to keep going.
Centuries earlier, Paul explained why he endured hardships and persecution (2 Corinthians 4:8–9): to reveal “the life of Jesus” within him (v. 10). Paul’s intimacy with Jesus couldn’t ever be thwarted; His presence provided the courage Paul needed to keep preaching to “more and more people,” which caused “thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” (v. 15). Despite his trials, Paul knew that inwardly he was “being renewed day by day” ( v. 16).
As with Paul, the authorities tried to take everything away from Wurmbrand. “But,” the prisoner said, “they could not take my Jesus from me.” The Lord is here with us too, and He is the source of our resilience. He is why “we do not lost heart” (v. 16), even when we face troubles for serving Him. He guides us steadfastly towards “an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (v. 17).
By Chris Wale
REFLECT & PRAY
What situations or relationships cause you to lose heart? How does it encourage you that Jesus inwardly strengthens and renews you?
Jesus, You know the challenges I face when it comes to living out my faith openly. Help me to keep my heart set on You, so that even when I face hardships or persecution, people will see You living in me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul was qualified to talk about struggle and hardship. He endured many things—blindness, slander, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, imprisonment, and ultimately execution for the sake of Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 4:8–9, Paul uses four pairs of ideas—each linked by the phrase “but not”—to express both the difficulty we may experience when we choose to follow Jesus but also the hope of our faith. “Hard pressed . . . but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Even though we may experience difficulty or persecution, nothing can touch the eternal hope we have in Christ.
J.R. Hudberg
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