How Do We Make It Through?

Life is hard. Plain and simple. It’s just hard. As Christians, our yoke is easy in Jesus Christ, but by being His followers, we’ve become enemies with the world. The world hates us, just like they hated Jesus. The world thought the apostles “like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” (1 Corinthians 4:13) And so they were treated.

So how do we endure hardship? Imprisonment? Affliction? Trials of various types? Persecution?

I think the key to it is in Hebrews 12:1–2 where it says “Let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1–2) We need to be looking to Jesus. How do we look to Him? Well, we need to abide in Him. We must be getting our food and water from Him. But how do we abide in Jesus? Jesus tells us “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.” (John 15:10) In verse 12, He tells us his commandment “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

So, it boils down to love. If we love as Christ loved, (and Jesus had the greatest love (John 15:13-14), for He gave His very life in love), then we will abide in Him. We will be fed daily by Him. For we are nothing without Jesus. And we can do nothing without Him.

So, during these trials and persecutions be fed by Jesus. Eat His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:53-57), so you may abide and endure. To do so, love as He loved. But you can’t love without Him. So, you must ask Him for His love. Ask for His love. It all depends on Him.

Look to Jesus as your source of strength and He will carry you through. God bless you and keep you as you seek Him out.