As Christians, we tend to think that once we follow Christ, we are immune to further trials of this world, when that is not true. In fact, James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Our misconceptions of living a life with Christ stir up doubt, anger and fear within us because we do not understand why we sometimes will suffer as a Christian. We still live in a fallen and broken world, and sometimes, we face trials simply because we love Jesus. Following Christ is counter-cultural, and making a bold statement about what you believe can cause people to bring about trials in your life. Trials make us stronger, though, and they show us why we stand by what we believe in.
I know in my own life, I've experienced many seasons of being mocked for standing up for my faith, and in the long run, I am so thankful I went through the fire so I now know why I truly stand firm in my relationship with Christ. Those seasons came with hardships, and it was not easy, but it was worth it. It was in those times that I truly came to see my relationship with Christ as more precious than gold because the people mocking me could not see what I could see in how great it is to know Christ.
As Christians, we are called to suffer well. Jesus came to suffer for our sins when He was innocent, and we are called to fix our eyes on Him when we experience tribulations. Our world is so broken, and the world will not understand what it means to truly be forgiven and saved unless they come to know Jesus. Lost people have their eternal lives on the line, and The Lord uses our lives for His glory. The Lord can even use our brokenness, hurt, and frustrations to bring Himself glory.
Being a Christian is not about following all the rules to earn our way into Heaven. No one besides Jesus could ever live a perfect life here on Earth, and this is why Jesus came to die on a cross for us. He came to do what we could not do on our own. Jesus's death and resurrection conquered sin and death for eternity. All we have to do is accept Him.
The Gospel is simple, and it leads to living a life that's worth it. It won't always be easy, but with Christ, when the storms come, we won't have to battle them alone. With Christ, there is a purpose in life, and every day is an opportunity to bring Him glory.
