Freedom in Suffering
By Laura Lindsey
If you have been alive and breathing the past two years you would know our world has been shifted upside down. From walking into stores to seeing friends, it all has been discombobulated. How we view tomorrow and the days ahead has shifted. As a kid growing up in the 90s I never had a worry or thought cross my mind about war or anything threatening the United States. It was a happy go lucky lifestyle that was filled with a security in everything because we were the US. Nothing could ever happen here, right?
Now that we are seeing our society crumble because of very poor choices by the American people and our Government we are beginning to realize our fragility. Satan has influenced far more people than we know. We aren’t in charge of the rest of the world or other peoples’ opinions and actions. What we do have control over are our thoughts, desires, actions, and beliefs.
As a believer, God calls me to die to myself, pick up my cross, and follow Him. I can’t live selfishly and expect to produce the Fruits of the Spirit. I can’t follow the wide trail into utter despair because we may run out of food, be sent to prison camps, or be nuked. No, in order to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control I must be in the Word. In Relationship with the One True God. Living in a Biblical community. It is impossible to live in freedom without Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “For where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.”
While reading “Hearts of Fire” by Voice of the Martyrs, I have imagined myself in dark places and thought through what I would do in those moments. Would I denounce Christ or would I stand strong? Would I be able to withstand Satan’s temptations? I have never been in a place of such strong opposition before. As I have watched and studied what has been going on the past two years I have come to a place of realization. If my kids are taken, if I am killed, if I am tortured, if I am separated from my family, or they are killed, Christ is still and will always be my Joy and Hope. Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” That is freedom.
There is eternal life in Christ after death far more magnificent and awesome than this temporal earthly life. We can endure. We can stay strong no matter the consequences. God is our Jehovah Jireh- The Lord Will Provide. He is our El Shaddai- The Lord God Almighty. He is the Jehovah Shammah- The Lord is There.