Rejoice in persecution

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

This is one of my favorite passages in the new testament. It fills me with encouragement and hope, that what i'm going through or went through was not in vain.

I've never been persecuted or ridiculed for my faith and love in Christ until i came to college. And i guess there are good and bad sides to that.

The good- i surrounded myself with Christians. I was always in that comfort zone, with leaders and elders to guide me down my spiritual path, and with friends to hold me accountable. My entire family + mom's side is devout Christian.

The bad- i never professed my faith as outwardly as i have in the past couple years. I was a silent Christian..in that i never tried to tell the gospel to non-Christians that i knew, only marking "Christian" on surveys or applications. Not a proud moment for me here...

The people that i've surrounded myself with in college were not exactly "Christians", i guess. They were labeled christians, but did nothing to glorify God. I'm guilty of it too, it's not like i'm walking around, head held up high acting like a pious little christian. No..i've had my share of stepping into mud here and there. But it wasn't until last year that i realized. All this worldly stuff that people get soaked up into,.. the partying, the drinking, the sex,.. means nothing. And when you reject that because you know that those things take you further and further away from the relationship between yourself and the heavenly Father, people judge. They reject you, slander you, hate you. And it hurts to be rejected by those who you've called friends. your Sisters.

But this passage. Peter is telling those who have been prosecuted for God to stand with joy and happiness, not of embarassment or shame. Our sufferings are nothing compared to what Jesus went through..all that physical, emotional, mental and above all spiritual torment that he went through.. all for love.

I look back now on that fall semester last year,.. when i was ridiculed for standing up to my faith. And i've never felt more happier. Not sad for the deteriorating relationships with my 'friends', but instead joy and honor, and even a sense of peace. All for the glory of God.

"However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."

Heavenly Father - thank you for allowing me to be persecuted for you. for allowing me to feel rejection and shame in front of the world, just so that i can bear Your name and the cross. to profess my undeserving but undying love for You.