I am always amazed when an adult tells me that another adult is being cruel to them.
I think we want life to be fair, but it’s not. We expect people to grow up and behave themselves, but they don’t always. We think that if we act a certain way that no one will bother us, but that is not always the case either.
Do you feel persecuted today?
When I talk about persecution, I tend to think of our Christian brothers and sisters who have been harmed or even murdered because of their testimony for Christ. However, the mental anguish that comes our way via others is also a form of persecution. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and verbal abuse all cause mental aguish.
Being able to view what is happening from God’s perspective will help you to understand what is really going on.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:8-11
In this passage, verse 8 tells us to be sober and vigilant because the devil is seeking to devour us. In John 17 we know that Jesus prayed for all believers.
Verse 9 tells us to be steadfast in the faith. James 4 tells us to resist the devil, and he will flee. We are also told “the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” Whatever you are going through, others have been through it, or are going through it, or will go through the same at some point in their life.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you come out the other side of the situation, you will be able to comfort someone else that is going through it.
Verse 10 tells us that God will make us perfect, stablished, strengthened, and settled. God is permitting the persecution because He is working something out in you. I’ve endured a lot in my lifetime. Perhaps I was hardheaded or maybe I just had a long way to go.
Verse 11 says, “To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” God is in complete control of it all. He is still on His throne.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to know that Jesus prayed for you, and understand that God is working something out in you when you are persecuted. When you come through it, comfort others wherewith you have been comforted.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23
Trials will come to all of us. Just take them one day at a time.