D. Edmond Hiebert, On the Relationship Between Suffering and Joy

“The early Christians found in their new faith not an avenue of escape from the unpleasant and trying experiences of life but a power than enabled them joyously to endure their sufferings. They found that their sufferings for the faith did not break their spirit or embitter them; they found it an experience that changes evil into something that worked for their spiritual good. The joy amid suffering drew the attention of the world and was one of the causes for the rapid spread of Christianity. The depth of a disciple’s joy in the Lord may well be measured by the degree of his participation in the sufferings of the Lord. It is still true that those who pay a great price in suffering to remain true to Christ know a deep measure of this Spirit-wrought joy in their lives. Perhaps our Christian lives are so lacking in this joy because our Christian profession costs us so little.”