“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…" - Matthew 5:11-12
As a kid, every day on my way to school we would pass a road called Easy Street (no, I’m not making that up!). I used to joke that I wished I lived on that street. What I wouldn’t have given for an “easy” life! Back then, “easy” meant no homework, no awkward teenage crushes or acne, and parents who would indulge my every whim. Now that I’m a grown-up, that elusive Easy Street has some different qualities: no financial concerns, well-behaved children, and a healthy family…oh, and maybe a picket-fenced dream home while we’re at it. ;-)
The fact of the matter is, life isn’t easy. And in fact, Jesus tells us that the “easy” way leads only to destruction (Matthew 7:13). And while we may rightly say that this verse refers to the way of eternal life, it is no less true for our lives as believers. Everyone faces trouble in their lives. But those who try to lead godly lives invariably find themselves facing a remarkable amount of trouble. This is not accidental, as Paul told his young protege Timothy: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). So let’s face it: life is hard.
The wonderful thing about our Savior is that He didn’t come to earth just to save us from our sin and give us a home in heaven, though that would have been enough. He came to be with us in our struggles and, if we’ll let Him, to bear our burdens for us. The same Jesus who promised us persecution (Luke 21:12) also said, “Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
How can Christ say His yoke is easy? He Himself faced trials more severe than most of us can imagine, up to and including the most humiliating and torturous death known to man; and as we already saw, He promised us that we could expect persecution as His followers. That doesn’t sound like a particularly “easy” or “light” burden to me.
But when we view our difficulties—and yes, our persecutions, too—with eternity in view, a new understanding emerges. Today’s thoughts all come to us from the Apostle Paul, who had his fair share of difficulties.
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul shares an incident in which he asked the Lord three times to remove a “thorn in the flesh” from him. Verses 9-10 record the answer he received as well as his response: “But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul understood that when we attempt to undertake the Christian life in our own strength, we not only find ourselves unable to withstand the trials, but we also diminish the work of Christ in our lives. But, as was the case with Paul, our weaknesses and hardships only amplify Christ’s strength in us, and allow us to bear up under the burdens.
Secondly, we can draw comfort and strength knowing that our victory has already been secured. Though we may face long seasons of intense difficulty, we are confident because Christ defeated sin and its curse through His death and resurrection. Again, Paul says in Romans 8: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:35, 37).
Finally, as today’s verse tells us, compared to eternity in Glory, our suffering here on earth is indeed light. I’ve heard people speak with disdain of people who were “so heavenly minded they were no earthly good,” but I believe the truth to be the opposite: when we consistently look to Heaven as our forever home, we will be emboldened to face persecution with renewed courage, knowing that our struggles here pale in comparison with what awaits us there. In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul boldly states, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” While the rest of the world—and sadly, even many Christians—are looking around them for comfort or hope, we have the assurance that our hope is secure and that our joy will be eternally complete when we are united with Christ in glory.
Some of you, I know, have faced or are facing more severe trials than I can imagine; just recently I’ve heard of parents who have lost their young children unexpectedly, or are facing life-threatening diseases in their preschoolers. I know of women who have lost their lifelong mates with almost no warning, and though they are certain of their spouses’ eternal destination, they are suddenly without the comfort and security a husband provides. For myself, I have seen my fair share of disappointments, difficulties, and setbacks. And though we may never know this side of heaven what good God possibly have in mind in the midst of them, we can be sure that He was with us every step of the way.
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture used in "Joy in the Morning" is taken from the English Standard Version.
