Saturday, June 19, 2010

"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." -- 2 Timothy 2:3

We don't want to suffer. As Christians, we somehow think we should be exempt. At least from the really bad stuff. We may know in our minds that bad things happen to everyone but in our hearts we think our love for Jesus should keep us somewhat insulated. It doesn't.

I met a wonderful man recently. He seemed gracious and kind. A good person. Late last winter he fought cancer -- and survived. In January, the home he and his wife have shared since 1968 caught fire. He considered himself blessed that no one was hurt and the fire was confined to the kitchen, utility room, etc. No major keepsakes were lost. The spring brought the death of their only child. She was 42.

When I read this passage, I couldn't help but think about the meaning of hardship. Certainly, Paul referred to suffering for the faith. He endured beatings and prison and so much. Paul carried on and he wanted Timothy to do the same.

Few of us will ever suffer great hardship for talking about our faith. At least not the way Paul did. But how we handle the tragedies that do come our way tells others about our faith. I didn't need to ask this man about his faith. He lived it. Do we live ours?

Hardship comes in so many ways. It can mean the very real struggled of trying to pay rent or a mortgage and buy food and necessities for ourselves and our families. It can mean physical limitations. It can mean keeping a job you hate, where you feel unwelcome, because it's a job and you need it. It can mean emotional challenges that comes from taking care of a loved one. The list goes on and on. Hardship can be a season or it can be an ongoing challenge with no end in sight.

How we handle hardship reflects on us -- and on Jesus. Non-believers look at us as we navigate rough waters. If we struggle and appear to sink, why would they want to welcome Jesus into their lives? But if they see strength amid challenges, they're far more likely to want what we have.

I'm not saying it's an easy road. It's not. It's difficult and sometimes seems unfair and impossible to handle. But as Christians, we know we are never alone. We can draw strength from the hands that hold us up as we face whatever comes our way.