Facing Dark & Cloudy Days

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). To what degree and of what kind of persecution we must endure differs widely, but nonetheless, the suffering in its various forms is hard to handle. That is why we must continually focus our attention on Jesus, who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we become weary and faint in our minds (Hebrews 12:3). There is hope of a better day. “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” at the coming day of redemption (Romans 8:17-23). For Christ’s we are killed all the day long, yet though the outward man perish (for it is given unto us on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for HIs sake), the inward man is renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16; Philippians 1:29). This we know, and by this knowledge we do not lose heart, that the affliction we receive now is fleeting, but the reward of glory is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)!  Living for and suffering with Christ has a far and away better return than living a life for ourselves and one of ease now. Live by faith and not by sight! It is becoming increasingly hard to live out your faith in Christ as He and His followers are looked upon with contempt. Didn’t Christ speak to this very scenario? He directly stated, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:18–19). Therefore, in the midst of all that the world vehemently does to us in opposition to Christ and His ways, let us by Christ “rejoice, and be exceeding glad” for great is the reward in Heaven (Matthew 5:10-12). No matter their ridicule it is for us as believers to do good unto our enemies, and pray for them without marveling at their reactions (Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 3:13).