"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you" (1 Peter 4:12-14 ESV Commentary Adaptation).
I never thought my greatest wounds would come from other Christians, but should I really be surprised? It was the religious Pharisees and scholars who persecuted Jesus.
Yet, the moment it first happened, I broke down. I felt like I'd been sucker-punched, beaten, and left for dead.
Thoughts multiplied in my mind:
How do you walk into a room full of people who hate you?
How do you look at your perpetrators like they're your best buds?
How do you keep going when you'd prefer to throw in the towel?
The answer?
Like Jesus did.
It's not an easy, comfortable, or formidable task. In any and all of these situations, facing those who hate you, loving them, and acting with perseverance are challenges we all must face at one time or another. We might be shaken, crumbling, and broken. There's no doubt about that.
But the way we get through those things anyway is rooted in something that cannot be shaken, taken, or broken away from us. That something is Jesus Christ and the faith, hope, love, joy, and peace He plants deep within our hearts, minds, souls, and beings.
Psalm 16:8-11 (ESV) says "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Prioritize God and His Kingdom
One thing that I love about this passage is that when we prioritize God and His Kingdom, He enables us to walk through difficult waters–including persecution–even and especially when we don't want to wade through them. This is what it means to set the Lord before us and honor Him as our right hand.
The Passion Translation commentary says this: "Because I set you, Yahweh, always close to me, my confidence will never be weakened, for I experience your wraparound presence every moment. My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory! Even my body will rest confident and secure" (Psalm 16:8).
Prioritizing God and His Kingdom doesn't mean we won't continue to face persecution and hardships. Those two things are actually promised to us: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble." However, God doesn't leave us in the dark, wounded and afraid. He equips us with His presence. "But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NIV).
Remember His Faithfulness and Fulfillment
The second thing I love about this passage is that when we prioritize God and His Kingdom, He enables us to look to Him for our joy. Even our flesh can dwell securely in the shadow of His wings. He won't forsake us, and that's another steadfast promise.
Proverbs 30:5-6 (ESV) says, "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Why else would God tell us to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength? Why else would He tell us to not lean on our own understanding for navigating life's challenges but His?
Countless Scriptures reaffirm God's faithfulness and fulfillment to His people (even His people who don't deserve it):
- "Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled" (Joshua 21:45, NIV).
- "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6, NIV).
- "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9, NIV).
Let these Scriptures be nuggets of hope for you today. Hope that reminds you even when the storms come rolling in, our God sees and cares for us. He keeps His faithful promises and knows what it's like to suffer.
He Suffered for Us Once and for All
The final takeaway Psalm 16 teaches me is that because we serve Jesus, we, too, are equipped and called to face persecution. That doesn't mean that it won't be painful, difficult, or non-existent. Jesus Himself faced persecution to a degree we will never know. When we face it, however, he will not "abandon my soul to Sheol."
On the night He was crucified, Jesus knew more than anyone else what it meant to be utterly alone. The Father turned His back on His Son because of His love for us—sinful, wretched, and undeserving people. He who knew no sin became sin so that we might choose to love Him back. He paid the price once and for all. Even for those who’d never choose Him back. A beautiful testimony of His sacrifice and salvation I pray we never forget.
Fallen humanity may currently have to walk through horrific circumstances on this earth. You don't have to go very far to find violence, pain, persecution, and tribulation. It's ingrained in our society. But for those who have Christ and believe in His salvation, however, we're well-equipped to press on. Not because it's easy. Not because we don't feel like wounded animals kicked and discarded. Not because we don't feel like abused victims with far too many perpetrators.
But because Jesus suffered for us, we know where we're going. We know the eternity we look forward to. We know the sufferings are for a little while. But eternity will reap its rich and everlasting reward.
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV).
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Jordan Steranka
