Suffering for Christ’s sake

Diana resigned from her place of work after 5 years. There has been intense persecution at work because of her faith in God. She would not join her colleagues in their evil plans to defraud the company, neither will she accept bribes from those asking for favours. Her stand for truth and righteousness frustrated her co-workers; in turn, they planned to implicate her unjustly.

One afternoon, she briefly went out to get a cup of coffee at a café around her office. But on her way out, she had a nudge in her spirit to get the coffee in the staff kitchen instead of the café. She obeyed. As she approached the staff kitchen, she heard two female voices discussing.

“I’m sure Diana will soon be kicked out of this office,” a voice said.

“Yes, very soon. Amanda is working on it. Diana will be implicated and will be dismissed in a disgraceful manner. There’ll be no way out for her. Next week Wednesday, I will make sure to leave the cabinet door open after office hours and hide the keys. Don’t forget to play your part”, another voice replied. 

“You can count on me,” the first voice said. Then, they laughed.

Diana walked back to the office, thinking about the conversation she had just heard. She prayed about what to do and felt strongly that it was time to leave the company.

Diana sent her resignation letter the next day. Amanda, the manager, was upset that she could not dismiss her in a disgraceful way.

Living out our faith in this world will surely attract various forms of persecution, disapproval, reproach, and deprivation. The bible says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

Throughout the bible, we see examples of men and women who suffered because of their faith in God. Daniel, for example, was thrown into the den of lions (see Daniel 6:16) but God kept him safe. The disciples of Jesus all had their share of mocking, imprisonments, and beatings.

Despite these sufferings, we have the reassuring and ever-abiding Presence of God. “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matthew 28:20). We have His unfailing promise to always deliver us. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).

Two months after Diana’s resignation, she got a call from a company – Evergreen Ventures, one of the top clients in her former company. She was asked to take up a vacant position as an Associate in Evergreen Ventures – she didn’t even go for an interview. The client knew she was a person of high integrity and that was what they wanted.  

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (see Hebrews 11:6). If we stand for God, He will lift us up. We have no reason to fear. We serve a living and all-powerful God, the Creator of all things. God can equip us with the grace, strength, and courage we need to stand for the truth, even if we must suffer for Him. If we ask Him, He will give us wisdom to make right decisions all the time. And as we wait for Him to deliver us, He will fill our hearts with His joy and peace.

Are you are suffering for Christ’s sake? Don’t be discouraged. Keep standing for the truth and the grace of God will keep you strong. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2).