Why Consider Suffering Joyous?

To the natural person, this sounds like pure lunacy. Nobody in their right mind wants to suffer. In fact, we do all we can to relieve pain.

Yet we Christians are exhorted to consider all trials and persecution to be a joyous occasion. We find this explanation of being joyful in the midst of suffering in James 1:2 and 3 (BBE) which reads, "Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort; Because you have the knowledge that the testing of your faith gives you the power of going on in hope;"

Likewise Peter, no stranger to persecution, wrote in 1 Peter 1:6 and 7 (BBE), "You have cause for great joy in this, though it may have been necessary for you to be troubled for a little time, being tested in all sorts of ways, So that the true metal of your faith, being of much greater value than gold (which, though it comes to an end, is tested by fire), may come to light in praise and glory and honour, at the revelation of Jesus Christ:"

Certainly the first-century Christians understood the honour of being afflicted for the sake of Christ and the gospel. After the disciples were whipped by the temple rulers and warned never to preach about Christ, we read what they did  in Acts 5:41 (BBE). "So they went away from the Sanhedrin, happy to undergo shame for the Name."

The Apostle Paul also recognized the joy which exists in suffering for the sake of our Lord and Master, Jesus. We read in 2 Thessalonians 1:4 and 5 (BBE), "So that we ourselves take pride in you in the churches of God for your untroubled mind and your faith in all the troubles and sorrows which you are going through; Which is a clear sign of the decision which God in his righteousness has made; to give you a part in his kingdom, for which you have undergone this pain;"

So we realize that suffering persecution is a joyous privilege. It tests our faith in Christ. It also gives us hope of recompense for our righteous suffering at the hands of wicked people. We will also be given a glorious reward when Christ returns for standing firm for him. Understood in light of these verses alone, we rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer the blows meant for Christ.

I'm working on a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People need to understand that only God's criteria matters regarding whom he lets into his holy habitation.

On Saturday, I hope to post about the value of recognizing one's faults. I also feature a great Canadian band's hit from 1971.