“10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Here I am, Lord!” he said.

11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

17 So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.”

Acts 9:10-19

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Suffering for the sake of Christ was part of God’s plan for Saul. That sounds harsh, but it would also be a point of pride for Paul later in his life. What you and I would want to avoid, suffering, became a marker for him of his mission. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul lists out his suffering as a testament to the work of Christ in him and as evidence of his own faithfulness. He calls himself foolish for the sake of Christ, and he wound up bearing the marks on his body as evidence of his devotion. 

Now, God is not calling any of us to go out and seek martyrdom or to intentionally get beat for the sake of His Name for no reason. Paul had the stubbornness and passion to keep on moving after being on the receiving end of affliction. He opened up his heart and life to God to be used as His instrument, just as Jesus told Ananias, however God wanted to use him. And so, his willingness to serve wound up putting him through suffering. Jesus guaranteed us that suffering would come if we were ealking faithfully with him. He promised us that the world would hate us like it hated Him, and later, in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul would write that our present sufferings are not worht comparing ot the glory that would be revealed in us through Christ. 

Suffering is something that most people avoid. But suffering shame, humiliation and even physical beatings was a part of the life of Paul as he preached and taught people about Jesus. He was partaking in the same type of suffering that Jesus endured during the final days of His ministry on earth. Peter and the other apostles would all suffer likewise for the sake of the Name and so many others, even today, bear the marks on their body or have laid down their lives, for the sake of the Gospel message. 

2 Timothy 1:7-8

“7 For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.”

We cannot run from suffering or live in fear. Part of our faithfulness is sticking out when it gets difficult. Part of what people are going to see in us that points toward Christ is when we partake in suffering for His sake. In our weakness, His strength come shining through, and people see Him at work in us, not just someone who seems to be passionate, but a power and a steadfastness beyond what someone would normally be able to do. We then, like Paul, get to boast in our weaknesses, because in those moments, Christ in us is shown all the more. 

As we GoLove people in His Name and for the sake of His Name, there are going to be moments and seasons of suffering as we seek to do what is right and as we serve, teach and equip people to walk as Jesus walked. The process of evangelism and discipleship isn’t an easy path, lined with gumdrops and rainbows. It’s going to be difficult. It’s going to require discipline and a steadfast heart. And that means that you and I are going to have to lay down our lives and our ideas on what we think we can handle and trust in the strength that only God affords. Ananias didn’t want anything to do with Paul, but Jesus simply told him to “Go!” His fears of a human being weren’t sufficient reason to keep him from doing the work that God desired of him. He listened to his commissioning, he answered the call & God was glorified in the process. Ananias was fearful of what a man might do to him, and in this case…nothing happened to him. He ministered and left safely, unharmed, and better for it. If he had let his fear control him, he would have missed out on a wonderful opportunity, and God would have used someone else to accomplish His plan.

Don’t be fearful. Don’t miss out on what God has laid out for you. Trust Him. Do what He wills, and don’t let something as easily conquered as fear of the unknown keep you from experiencing the amazing life that God has planned for you and from seeing the joy in the eyes and hearts of others as you serve Him to lay out the Gospel message to them.