When Jesus Holds You Close

You may not know this about Jesus,
but suffering for His name is the place
we enter His suffering.
The place He holds us close -
the place we most identify with Him,
not only in His dying
but in His living.

"Blessed are you?"
when people insult you,
persecute you,
and speak all kinds of evil
against you
because of Me. (Matthew 5:11)

Jesus isn't speaking of all the suffering we face.
He speaks of the suffering we endure
because we belong to Him.
Because we unashamedly live as He lived.

Peter says this is the moment
we share in Christ's sufferings. (1 Pet 4:13)

Paul says this is where we enter
the fellowship of His suffering. (Phil 3:10)

We aren't standing alone
when lies rise and insults sting,
and obedience costs us
reputation and comfort
because we follow Jesus.

We're standing with Jesus,
the prophets,
and all who remained faithful to the end.

And when we stand before Jesus,
He will not say, "I never knew you."

He will say, "Well done,
My good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)

For those He holds
through slander, rejection, and abuse -
they are the ones who know Him
and are known by Him.

And in that place,
something holy happens.

His strength steadies us.
His presence fills us.
His joy becomes our reward.

The blessing is not
in the pain.
The blessing is
in Him.

Suffering for His name
isn't a detour.
It's the path where His life
becomes present,
powerful,
and real.

In those seasons
we don't feel despair.
We receive the blessing
of Christ holding us close
as we share His suffering.

Because nearness to Jesus
is the blessing.

How does knowing
Jesus holds me close
when I suffer for His name
change my view of persecution?

When I'm misunderstood
or rejected
because I follow Jesus,
in that place
He holds me close.

Father, bring to my mind
when I'm suffering for Christ
that I share His suffering.
I ask in His