His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Worthy of suffering … this concept seems to be an oxymoron to many in this world. When one’s goals and objectives are to simply “climb the corporate ladder” and “win friends and influence people”, being worthy of suffering seems like a backwards approach.

As I look back in life, suffering has cropped its ugly head up time and again in my life and the lives of those around me. We all deal with it and live through challenges, some much more severe than others. Some of the suffering I have seen or heard of includes: children dealing with losing a parent, parents dealing with sickness or death of their child, retirement saving lost to a trusted advisor who deceived, careers sabotaged, children abused or sex-trafficked, drug and alcohol abuse, war atrocities, demon possession, and the list goes on.

So many people enter into and leave suffering wondering: What was the purpose or point of it? Why did that have to happen to them or me?

In stark contrast to the reactions of this world to suffering, we see the Apostles here rejoicing at suffering! They are praising God for the ability to suffer! Almost UNBELIEVABLE! Why would they do this? Are they crazy?

The answer is not a heady theological concept or a philosophical reasoning … the answer is found in the life and person of Jesus Christ! He is the reason we can rejoice in suffering. He modeled this for us, with a perfect life in which he was rewarded on this earth with much suffering … including death on a cross. However, he was rewarded in the spiritual realms with the ability to redeem us from our sins, to put new life and God’s Spirit in our hearts, and to dwell with us, his creation! Jesus is the model of a different way to deal with suffering.

The Apostles saw this firsthand and they obeyed his model. Though they had done nothing wrong, they were flogged (or whipped), beaten brutally. Instead of lashing out at the evil men and evil treatment they experienced, they pictured Jesus, remembered his model of rejoicing when suffering, and rejoiced as well.

So when I suffer for doing good, I can picture Jesus, the Apostles, and so many of those who were faithful to follow Jesus in my life — I can picture their suffering and their glory and rejoicing — and I can take courage and rejoicing in my sufferings as well!

Lord, you alone are the one who can give me a heart to rejoice in my sufferings. Thank you for the ways you show up in the midst of challenges to uplift, encourage, and give me strength. I am honored to suffer for your name and your causes!