4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in everyway: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 2 Corinthians 6:4-5
Have you ever suffered hardships during your walk as a Christian? I know I have and certainly no shortage of them. You won’t have to read far into the New Testament to find how often Apostle Paul suffered either. He was shipwrecked, stoned, beaten, whipped, robbed; endured sleeplessness and hunger. The list of examples goes on and on.
However, Paul understood better than most that hardship for Christ serves a greater purpose. Read his words in 2 Corinthians 6:4-5. Pay special attention to the first part of that scripture: “…but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance…”
Paul is saying that suffering produces endurance. More importantly, suffering allows the glory of the gospel to shine forth from a Christian’s life in the way he or she responds to suffering and opposition.
What are you suffering from? What hardship are you facing in your life? Maybe you’ve received a bad health diagnosis; or you have a boss who is making work life difficult; or maybe you’re struggling to make ends meet and have lost sleep because of it.
Lay it at the feet of Jesus. He promises to take the yoke from you and bear it for you. Even if He doesn’t take it from you, He will give you the endurance to bear it for His glory.
Prayer: Lord God, I want to thank You for all of the blessings that you’ve given me, especially the ones I take for granted. As your child, I humbly ask that You take this cup of affliction from me. Though not as I will, but Your will be done. If it remains with me I know it’s to be used for your greater glory and I believe that you will give me the endurance to bear it. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Contributed by Josh McCormick