Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted

Continuing our series on Keys to Happiness, we are delighted to feature a guest post from our friend and sister in Christ, Jennifer Webb. Jennifer is a gifted high school English teacher, a delightful person, and a captivating writer whose work reflects her deep gratitude for her Savior. We are thrilled to welcome her as part of our writing team and look forward to the encouragement her words will bring in this final article in our Keys to Happiness series.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   -Matthew 5:10, NKJV

By Jennifer Webb

 Let me confess now to being a complete fraud.  There is little reason for someone like me to write an article like this.  

Because here is the truth: I grew up a secular Christian-the kind that celebrates Easter with a Bunny and Christmas with Santa Claus.  Always Christian-curious, I tried.  But it was like trying on a jacket that’s too small.  I liked it, but I wasn’t willing to lose the weight to make it fit.  To boil it down, my journey to faith has been long and wishy-washy.  And I am the last person, little ol’ first-world-problems me, who should be telling anyone about persecution for faith.  

 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.             (Matthew 5:11, NKJV)

On September 10, I was ushering my last students out the door when a neighboring teacher bluntly delivered a punch to my gut.  Charlie Kirk assassinated?  No way.  He was a young man, a young husband and father.  He was devout.  He was inspirational.

I proceeded to undergo the stages of grief for someone I didn’t even know beyond social media.  I mourned.   I forced myself to watch THE video.  It felt surreal.  It felt tragic.

But then…then something truly extraordinary began to happen on social media.  People began professing their faith.  People reported buying and reading the Bible for the first time.  People openly announced going to church for the first time.  And I cried all over again.  Only this time it wasn’t in mourning. It felt triumphant.  It felt supernatural.  Because it felt like God turned something evil into something miraculous.

Revival sprang up!  God calling us to Him! The Holy Spirit felt like it was cheering within me! (Let me assure you that growing up secular, the idea of excited anticipation of revival is so foreign and backwoods that I marvel at the transformation God has wrought in me.)  I literally got down on my knees and gave myself to Him the following Sunday before returning to church for the, I don’t know, upteenth time.  Here am I, Lord!  Send me!  I still don’t know what I’m doing, Dear Reader, but let us pray I can be a lamplight on your path. 

 While I’m not Bible-literate yet, I can quote confidently that Christian-living isn’t going to be roses and sunshine.  Our big mission is to be “Christlike,” as in reflecting Jesus’ life which includes enduring hardships while blessing those who force them upon us.

 Maybe we won’t be executed for our faith, but Jesus forewarned that our persecution could come in false accusations, rejection, name calling, even imprisonment and torture. 

Just imagine all the “weird” Christian homeschoolers, or the “weirdo” worldly-rejecting Off-gridders, or that “weird” conservatively dressed Christian kid at school who made you feel uncomfortable, because they seemed so good, and you were one zero homework grade away from a call home.  They’ve probably been praying for you all this time, and how many times were they ostracized and name-called?  Jesus too was turned away and name-called.  

Illogically, I worry now that my persecutions will not be enough, that I’m too soft, but then I think of the multiple times we are promised in the New Testament that suffering even these “hurty” words and enduring temptations will earn us the kingdom of heaven. Silly, I know. (If you’re newish at this, like me, you may not fully understand what it means to be saved.) I hope that name-calling is the only thing we have to suffer, but if we must suffer… 

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

                                                                   (Matthew 5:12, NKJV)

Jesus gives us blessings in the Beatitudes.  Trials and tribulations are all part of being a Christian, but they are never in vain.  If we endure for His righteousness’ sake, we receive the greatest reward: life everlasting.

 

 

Jenn Webb is a sometime author: sometimes she thinks about becoming one and sometimes she finds excuses to avoid doing so.  Growing up on the Chattahoochie River, she learned the art of self-deprecating wit that has devolved into “weird” humor since her divorce and relocation to Texas many moons ago.  She’s a resident and teacher in Johnson-Somervell County area where she shares a home with her mom and pack of wild, knee high, freeloading dogs who like to pretend being an alarm clock equates to treat-worthiness.  

Despite her winding road to faith in Jesus, she now proudly declares that He is her Lord and Savior

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