As I go through life, there seem to be times when God lays something on my heart, and it won’t go away until I deal with it. Last month, I tried to share one of those things, the conversation between the rich young ruler and Jesus. But that is only a part of what God has been working on in me.

One of the things that has struck me often as I have heard the stories of persecuted Christians around the world is this: How can people who have lost so much still have such deep joy? How can a Christian who has lost a home, a job, financial security, friendships, freedom, or even family relationships continue to praise God?

One of the books that I always recommend to people is Andrew Murray’s book, “Absolute Surrender.” It is a challenging book for anyone who really wants to follow Christ. And here perhaps, I can find a part of the answer.

Murray wrote:

“Oh, become nothing in deep reality, and, as a worker, study only one thing—to become poorer and lower and more helpless, that Christ may work all in you.”

Those words sound strange to us. We naturally want to become stronger, more secure, more independent, and more capable. We want to have enough resources to handle whatever life brings our way. But the persecuted church often has no such illusion of self-sufficiency.

When everything else is stripped away, they discover something profound: Christ is enough.

A believer who has lost his possessions can still have Christ.

A believer who has lost his position can still have Christ.

A believer who has been rejected by family can still have Christ.

A believer who has been driven from home can still have Christ.

And when Christ becomes the ultimate treasure, the loss of everything else does not mean the loss of joy.

Murray goes on to say: “We must forsake all to follow Christ.”

That is a difficult truth for comfortable Christians like us to consider. We can easily make following Jesus an addition to an otherwise comfortable life. We follow Christ while holding tightly to our possessions, our plans, our reputations, and our sense of security.

But our brothers and sisters who face persecution are often forced to answer a question that many of us can avoid: If everything else is taken away, is Jesus still enough? And remarkably, many of them can answer, “Yes!”

I believe that is why we sometimes see joy in the persecuted church that is difficult for us to understand. Their joy is not rooted in comfortable circumstances. It is not dependent upon having enough money, a safe home, a successful career, or an easy life. Their joy is rooted in Christ. It is His love that surrounds them, His resources that sustain them, and His protection that goes before them. And there, in the midst of His love, they find extreme joy.

Andrew Murray then adds a prayer that is worth praying: “Oh Christ, let me be filled with the Holy Spirit. I will give up anything and everything. Accept my surrender of all to You!” 

And perhaps our persecuted brothers and sisters can teach us how to pray this prayer. When we pray for them, let us certainly pray for protection, provision, healing, courage, and deliverance. But let us also pray that we will learn from their example. That we may discover the same reality they have discovered; that when Christ is our greatest treasure, we can have deep joy even when we have very little else.

And may we be willing to ask ourselves: If everything else were taken away, would Jesus still be enough for me? It is a question they answer daily with their lives.

Thank you for praying for them. And thank you for allowing their faithfulness to challenge and encourage your own.

In Christ,

Brother Dave

A Servant to the Body of Christ