Persecution

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom." (Matt 5:10 MSG)

The word persecution conjures up images of martyrs and Chinese Christians who are jailed for their faith. Yet persecution comes in many forms. Whenever we commit ourselves to God and do what is right, we become a threat to the devil, and he starts tripping us up. Trouble may come in the form of illness, criticism, fears, doubts, worries, anxieties, and insecurities. Evil uses every angle and every weapon to harass us.

We don't respond the same way to every trial. Sometimes afflictions lead to bitterness and defensiveness. We promise ourselves not to be vulnerable any more. Other times, adversity leads us to faith and trust in God. We realize that our power is limited against the enemy, that the battle is not ours but God's.

As long as all these tribulations just drive us closer to God, instead of away from God... evil loses and God wins.

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NLT)