Where's The Christian Easy Button?

“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
Matthew 5:10 GNT

How in the world does THIS work? I don’t see a connection between the words “happy” and “persecuted”. In fact, they seem to me to be on polar opposites of the happy spectrum. I read the word persecuted and I think about…

American Indians as North America was being settled…
Jews in Nazi Germany…
Blacks in racist America…
and first few generations of Christians.

Not nice stuff.
Not at all.

But this is all according to MY definition of the word persecution and MY perspective of what persecution looks like. And if there’s one thing I’ve realized over the past few years, it’s that MY views are not necessarily GOD’S views. Where my views are NARROW, God’s are WIDE. He sees EVERYTHING and, in comparison, I see NOTHING. So, when I it comes to this word “persecuted” I think I just might have it all wrong. So… I looked it up in the dictionary.

a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate a people because of their religion, race, or beliefs

Ok. That’s bad.

to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently

This one, not so much, but still pretty bad.

Either way you look at it, persecution is NOT a good thing. So, how in the heck am I to find happiness in persecution? I don’t want to be exterminated or driven away or subjugated or harassed or oppressed; no way! Where’s the joy in that? Again, my view is narrow.

I would like to suggest that happiness isn’t necessarily found in the PERSECUTION, it’s found in doing what GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO! God doesn’t promise an easy life. God says, “Expect suffering and persecution because following Me is tough!” I’ll end with this story:

My son told me a story this morning of how he intervened at school while someone was bullying another student. The bully then shifted focus from one victim to another and started bullying (persecuting) my son instead.

My son took up for the poor and needy and experienced persecution as his reward; HOWEVER, he told it to me with JOY, not sadness. Though he was persecuted, he found HAPPINESS knowing he did the RIGHT THING.

Reflect:

• How have you experienced persecution?
• During those times of persecution did you find happiness?
• How is it following God’s plan for you life can result in HAPPINESS even though the pathway is filled with PERSECUTION?
• What choices and situations have you avoided simply because you knew it would be tough or result in persecution?