In 2015, two Sudanese pastors named Michael and Peter were arrested by their Islamic government for preaching the gospel. For several months, they were brutally beaten and left to starve in dangerously overcrowded prison cells. Yet they did not complain once; instead, they joyfully shared the gospel with every inmate they could. Their message was one of hope. Even as they watched prisoner after fellow prisoner starve to death or be led away to death row, they proclaimed hope in the living king who redeems. Hundreds came to believe because of them. Hope shone forth in the darkest place.
Where does our hope lie? What reason could we possibly have for endurance? This is one of countless stories of Christians who have faced the deepest, harshest darkness imaginable and still endured with unquenched hope, because they know one thing that will always be true: their redeemer lives. It’s a remarkable, unique characteristic of Christians: we tend to act like no matter how hard our situations get, whether we live or we die, we will be protected, beloved, and eventually redeemed by King Jesus who lives and reigns in Heaven. Nothing can bring a Christian down to despair, because the redeemer lives!
When we suffer, we can suffer with hopeful endurance. Because our king is coming. He will indeed stand upon the earth, and he will rule over all things with righteousness and justice and victory over every evil, and everything, absolutely everything, will be made right. So when we feel like Job felt, and our hearts yearn for redemption and we fear that our complaints against suffering are going unheard, we can remember that God in Heaven hears us and cares for us and loves us enough to work wonders for our good. Endure suffering with patience and hope. Because our redeemer lives.
