Acts 14 | Facing Hardshipਨਮੂਨਾ

Facing Hardship

Here’s what Paul said: “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

That’s not the type of Bible passage we typically like. But there’s no getting around it. Jesus promised it. Following him will bring hardship into your life.

There’s a paradox here. Eugene Peterson writes: “There is a general assumption prevalent in the world that it is extremely difficult to be a Christian…. But this is as far from the truth as the east is from the west. The easiest thing in the world is to be a Christian. What is hard is to be a sinner” (A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, on Happiness).

Peterson is spot on. Without Christ, we are left to our own devices. Without Christ, we’re slaves to sin. Without Christ, we distance ourselves from what we are created for, live out of sync with the way of God that’s embedded in creation and hardwired in us, and separate from the promises and blessings God offers. That’s hard.

And yet.

With Christ we will face spiritual attack, persecution (in one form or another), and a call to sacrifice. In Christ, we feel the internal struggle between our old and new self.

On the one hand Jesus says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt 11:30). On the other, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24).

The way of the world often has peace on the outside, but little peace within. The way of Christ brings peace within, but hardship in this world.

At least that’s what we see in Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas face hardship for Christ. They warn the new disciples about it too. This week we’ll look at different kinds of hardship we’ll face by following Christ through the lens of Acts 14. Each day we’ll look at different ways the Bible encourages us to face these hardships. Today, start by looking at one simple passage that summarizes so much of a disciple’s life. Admit the challenge of hardship, but embrace the hope Christ provides no matter what hardship you face.