I am confronted with the question: Am I prepared to suffer for my faith? Am I prepared to give away all my earthly goods to thieves and murderers just to show them what the love of Jesus looks like? I suspect that I would eventually consider doing so after much kicking and resistance and with a broken heart.

The answer to the question gets all the more difficult if it does involve my loved ones. I don’t even want to try an answer, because I know I will fail completely. Paul told the young Christians of Thessalonica the following: ⁵… So we tell the other churches of God how proud we are of you. We tell them how you patiently continue to be strong and have faith, even though you are being persecuted and are suffering many troubles.

The last sentence echoes in my mind: “… even though you are being persecuted and are suffering many troubles.”

I ask myself the question again: To what extent am I prepared to suffer for God? Or how far can my faith go in the process of suffering?

I learn so much from Richard (not his real name) about suffering, affliction and faith:

I (actually us) am going through such a tough time. Yesterday my vehicle’s battery died.

On my way to a supplier the clutch gave in.

While pulling over at the roadside, the hubcap came loose and a passing vehicle destroyed it.

My business is battling. A client who accepted a quote for work that I would do doesn’t want to continue with it anymore and I needed the income so badly.

When I switched on the television the DSTV was off.

It just seems as if everything is turning against me.

While I am writing to you, my Yorkie is running up and down in the house bringing me an empty toilet roll. He got hold of my wife’s slipper and have a huge wrestling fight with himself. The carpet is completely turned upside down as he is running and playing.

It struck me: He doesn’t worry about a thing. He is happy to be with me and trusts me completely for what he needs. He doesn’t wonder what he will be eating or where he will be sleeping, and he isn’t anxious to be alone when I have to go to work. He knows I am there.

I have an eternal and wonderful God and I forget that I am much better cared for than I can care for my dog. My name is engraved in the palms of His hands.

I know most of the stuff in Richard’s difficult time is earthly things. Yet I learn something about surrender – or actually cuddling – in God’s hand palms. There where we can be honest and can whisper our fears. That we are scared of suffering. That we are scared and don’t know up to what extent we are prepared to suffer. That we are afraid of a cock that crows …

Text

2 Thessalonians 1:3-6

To think about

Are you scared?

Are you prepared to suffer?

At all cost?

Prayer

Father, please strengthen my faith so that even in the most difficult of circumstances I will be prepared to trust You. Amen.