Kindness in Suffering: 12 Ways God Shows His Goodness Through Trials and AfflictionsSample

Suffering Bears Witness to the Power of the Gospel

One of the most unexpected results of suffering is its effectiveness in bearing witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the apostles were arrested and jailed for preaching the gospel in Acts 5, the religious leaders of Israel had no idea that their persecution would serve to grow the church in Jerusalem. Before being released, the disciples were whipped and implored to remain silent, yet the men returned to the streets, “rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day . . . they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:41–42). What was the result of their labors? Acts 6:1 tells us that the number of disciples continued to increase.

The key to this remarkable growth is the evangelistic boldness that comes from those who suffer in bearing witness to Christ. While in prison, Paul testified, “my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel . . . and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (Phil. 1:12, 14). How so?

Oftentimes, the fear of persecution stifles us from being faithful to the gospel. We keep quiet when we ought to be sharing Christ with others. But when we see how God faithfully sustains His servants in the height of their afflictions, we are emboldened to stand for Christ, knowing that He will sustain our faith in the same way. When we consider that through evangelism the gospel of God is unleashed to save the lost (cf. Rom. 1:16), then whatever means by which the message goes forth—including through persecution and suffering—is a demonstration of the lovingkindness of God toward sinners.