Why Do Christians Suffer
I serve in a ministry called Global Media Outreach where we seek to share the gospel with those around the world through media, social media, the internet etc...Today I received a question from a brother in Christ asking why Christians suffer and why people hate believers in Christ. Below is the answer I shared with him...
The first thing I would say is that people hate believers in Christ because of the hope that we have. Those who do not have such hope don't understand the hope we have and they hate us for having hope in Christ and for telling them the truth. They don't want to hear the truth and therefore hate us for telling them. Paul experienced this and even wrote in Galatians 4:16 asking if the church hated him for telling them the truth. I think the same thing happens with us as believers.
Jesus told us in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus promised us three things in this verse. First, He promised that we would have tribulation in the world. Tribulation is difficulty, especially difficulty that is related to our faith. Every believer will go through difficult times for various reasons. Second, Jesus promised us peace. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us that when we bring everything to God in prayer He will give us a peace that passes all understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ. So peace is available to us in the midst of difficulty when we bring everything to God in prayer. Third, Jesus promised that He has overcome the world. This means that we will ultimately have victory in Christ. This is hard for us to see sometimes because it looks like evil is winning in the world. But even if, in this life, we seem to not have victory we will ultimately have victory in Christ for all eternity. This is where we place our hope.
I finished the answer with a prayer for peace for this person who was going through tribulation. I don't know if you need it today but if you do here is a prayer for God's peace that you can claim as your own...
Father we pray for Your grace and peace over our lives. In this world we certainly have problems, remind us to bring them to You in prayer and to trust that our victory is in Christ alone. Thank You for Jesus, thank You for the promise of peace through Him. Father we need Your intervention in our lives and in this world, so we ask God for You to bring us a peace that is beyond understanding as we trust in You. To You be all the glory, in Jesus name, Amen!
Image Borrowed from: Lovinggrace.org
