If I’m honest with myself, suffering for Jesus scares me. By “suffering” I mean here things like imprisonment, torture, starvation, death. People really experience these things because of their faith. Take Paul’s list in 2 Corinthians 11. Imprisonment. Countless beatings. Lashes. Rods. Stones.

On top of all that, Peter says that such treatment is not abnormal. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

All this makes me wonder how I would hold up under that kind of pain.

I’m helped by the testimony of Brother Yun, a Chinese Christian who endured deep affliction for the gospel and wrote about his experiences in the book “The Heavenly Man.” Here is his description of God’s faithfulness during a four-year prison sentence he had just been released from:

I had experienced so much in those four years, but God had been faithful. I’d suffered some horrible tortures, but God had been faithful. I’d been dragged in front of judges and courts, but God had been faithful. I’d been hungry, thirsty, and had fainted from exhaustion, but God had been faithful.

Through it all, God was always faithful and loving to me. He had never left me nor forsaken me. His grace was always suffiecient and he provided for my every need.

I didn’t suffer for Jesus in prison. No! I was with Jesus and I experienced his very real presence, joy, and peace every day. It’s not those in prison for the sake of the gospel who suffer. The person who suffers is he who never experiences God’s intimate presence. (187-188)

Amen. God will be faithful, and I have nothing to fear. They may lock me away, but Jesus will stand by me. They may starve me, but Jesus will be my bread. They may torture me, but Jesus will be my solace.

They may kill me, but Jesus will be my life.

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:10-11).