“I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.” Acts 20:23
My little family barely ever gets sick, thank God! We’ve only had one broken bone in sixteen years and it was just a pinky finger. There’s never been a need for stitches, long-term medication, or surgery of any kind. That’s the good news.
The bad news is: My kids don’t tolerate pain or discomfort very well. They’re so used to being healthy and well, they think the world is ending when they get hurt. A bruise can send Jocelyn into a dramatic spin for days.
That’s when I have to pull out war stories from the way-back machine.
When I tell my kids about an injury or illness that someone else or I have lived through, they calm down. Hearing about others who had it worse puts things in perspective. They begin to realize that what they’re going through could be far worse. Yet, if given the option, they’d still forgo their own mini-trial.
That makes Paul’s willingness to embrace prison and hardship in Acts 20 that much more admirable. Despite the Holy Spirit warning him in advance that he’s going to suffer for spreading the Word of God, Paul is not deterred. He is so on fire for God, he goes anyways.
It’s also important that the Ephesian Elders hear Paul say he knows he’s going to suffer, and then see him proclaim the Good News anyways. I believe that more than what Paul says, it’s what he does that teaches them the strongest lesson. The Ephesian Elders not only hear Paul talk about his conviction to glorify God, they witness it.
How many of us would willingly face prison and hardships for our beliefs? I know my kids wouldn’t, that’s for sure! If there’s pain or discomfort involved, they’d run the other way.
But the goal would be for me to be willing to do so, and not only tell my kids I’m willing, but show them. Not only do I need to talk the talk, but I need to walk the walk.
Question for Reflection:
*Am I willing to faced hardship for my beliefs?
Shifting My Perspective 
Wow, makes you think…
I hope I would have it in me if faced with something really hard. 🙏
LikeLike
Right back at you, Jean. Praying for courage and fortitude for both of us. 🙂
LikeLike
Claire, you zoom in, through the example of Jocelyn’s reaction to seemingly slight pain, to one of my biggest challenges that I’ve had as far back as third grade, when my teacher told us the story of St. Agnes and her martyrdom, and in my young heart I determined, “I could never do that!” And if I’m honest, to this day I marvel at the courage of St. Paul, St. Stephen, the martyred Apostles and all the martyred Saints through the centuries, as well as our brave military, so many of whom return severely wounded, and so many who make the ultimate sacrifice … for their super human courage, to suffer and die in their genuine love for Christ, a courage that can only come to them from our Suffering Messiah Himself! So to this day I pray that were I faced with such a decision, to give my life for Christ, He’d give me that same gift of courage. But in the meantime, even the little pains, such as Jocelyn’s bruise or
a broken finger can be experiences I believe to to help us offer these minor pains to
our Loving God, to get under the “yoke” big or small, with Jesus, as He’s invited us to do, trusting that if or when the more challenging pains arrive in our lives, we’ll be
accustomed to letting Him support us by accepting His invitation to come under the
“Yoke” with Him. I’m sure you know the Scripture passage I refer to, where Jesus uses the example of two beasts of burden, sharing one heavy load to let us know how He wants to support us in any challenging pain we experience!
LikeLike
Jackie, I feel like you just gave us all the first step toward being courageous for God: using all our small and minor struggles as an opportunity to “yoke” ourselves to Him for strength. But that’s no wonder. It seems your natural abilities as a teacher always shine through, guiding those of us who are fortunate enough to know you. Thank you!
LikeLike