Remember the song "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden"? I don't remember all the words, but some of them said "along with the sunshine, there's gonna be a little rain sometime." I think one of the misconceptions, and also one of the stumbling blocks to Christians is that we don't expect hard times, and when they come, we want to question Jesus--why don't you have my back on this one, Lord? The simple truth of the matter is, He never said it would be easy!
5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.
15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
5:17 But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,
5:18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward.
5:19 But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,
5:20 Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.
5:21 And when they heard `this', they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought.
5:22 But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told,
5:23 saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
5:24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow.
5:25 And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.
5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, `but' without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
5:28 saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.
5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree.
5:31 Him did God exalt with his right hand `to be' a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
5:32 And we are witnesses of these things; and `so is' the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
5:33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them.
5:34 But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while.
5:35 And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.
5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought.
5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away `some of the' people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown:
5:39 but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.
5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
5:41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
1:2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;
4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
4:16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Do you belong to Christ? Trials are coming. And when those trials come, we just have to ask ourselves, "Do I really believe what I say I believe. Philippians 1:27 instructs: "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." We are also told to "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love" (I Cor. 16:13).
Another old song I remember goes like this:
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love. --Annie J. Flint
So, Dear Friends, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 5:8-11).
These thoughts may become increasingly important as we watch what is happening in our country. Even secular morality is at an all-time low. Christians are ridiculed from all sides. We will suffer and be persecuted--that's a promise. The greater promise is the glory that awaits all who overcome in Jesus' Name.
Blessed Father, we understand that because we live in a sinful world, life won't always be easy. Please, make Your children overcomers. Train us and suit us up for the battle, and don't let us be shaken when it comes. Unto You be all the glory! Amen
1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,