“For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out.” (1 Thessalonians 2:14b-15a)

Following Jesus comes with a cost. The Thessalonians faced persecution immediately after coming to faith, and Paul reminds them they’re not alone. Suffering for the gospel isn’t a sign that something’s gone wrong. It’s often a sign that something’s gone right. When you start living authentically for Jesus, when your life begins to look different from the culture around you, there will be pushback. It might be subtle, like being excluded or mocked. It might be more intense, like losing relationships or opportunities. But suffering has a way of sharpening us and making us more like Jesus.

Here’s what’s easy to miss: suffering also connects us to others in a profound way. When you walk through hard things with people, when you suffer alongside them, you understand them in a way you never could otherwise. Your pain becomes a bridge to reach others who are hurting. The spiritual warfare you face, the challenges that come with following Jesus, they’re not wasted. God uses them to refine you, to deepen your faith, and to prepare you to minister to others who will face similar battles. Don’t run from the hard seasons. Let them shape you into someone who looks more like Jesus.

Reflect:

• Have I experienced any form of suffering or pushback because of my faith? How did I respond?
• How can God use the hard things I’ve walked through to help me reach and encourage others
• Pray for strength to endure whatever suffering comes with following Jesus, trusting that God is using it to make you more like him and to reach others.