Courage Through Adversity

Author: Jarod Brooks

Acts 5:41 NIV—The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

I watched a video a few weeks ago about a group of firefighters who were called to respond to a local apartment fire. This video showed men courageously braving the flames to save the lives of those trapped inside. I can’t recall how many times the firefighters ran back into the building. Still, I remember thinking that, surely, this was going to be the last time. The fire was becoming exceedingly rampant. As soon as I thought the building must be empty, the fighters retrieved one more from the burning building. Thanks to their courage, everyone made it out safely.

The video had me thinking: Contrary to the actions of these firefighters, in our day-to-day lives, we often value our safety over almost everything else. We seek safety from anxiety, social pressures, failure, heartache, dissatisfaction, and discomfort. We have a tendency to place ourselves at the top of our priority list.

However, this is only sometimes the case. Occasionally, we value other things enough to sacrifice our “safety,” whether for family, friends, or our religious and ethical convictions. This was precisely the case for the apostles we read about in Acts 5:41. Just as it was for the firefighters, the early apostles held to something higher than themselves as their source of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. Most of us feel uncomfortable suffering for anything, even if the cause is exceedingly great. We might look at our jobs as a frustrating necessity we have to suffer through in order to provide for our families. We might dread waking up to take that early morning walk after promising ourselves that this would be the day we started becoming more active. We complain about the long hours of homework we must endure, even though we build a future for ourselves.

The thing is, these disciples could rejoice because safety was not their priority; Christ was. This meant that their faith wasn’t fueled by what the Messiah could do for them but by what they could give back to the one who gave them everything. This is why they tolerated the hardships and rejoiced in them because they could show God what he truly meant to them. Every person who suffered persecution was a love letter of sorts to the Lord. Consider Paul’s words to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:20-21 NIV—“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Of course, this doesn’t mean to live without caution; it is a call to live without fear. Having courage through adversity isn’t hoping you’ll make it through unscathed; it’s knowing that every lash life gives you is worth it when it’s for his name’s sake. After all, he took them first.

Reflection

How can you start living today with a new sense of courage to walk through the flames of life, even when you might have nothing but a smile and a purpose?