Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
–Hebrews 11:36
There’s a good reason why we call Hebrews 11 the “Hall of Faith.” The chapter is filled with the names of people who distinguished themselves through their faith in God. People like Abraham, David, and Gideon each reflect the kind of faith that you and I want… the faith that faces down giants and puts armies to flight!
But in this same chapter there is another group of people mentioned whose faith also pleased God. Look at today’s verse. These “other” people were mocked, flogged, put in chains, and imprisoned.
Now, you might be tempted to look at how these people suffered and ask, “How can that be? Why did God allow his faithful ones to endure such terrible hardships? Was their faith too small? Did God fail?”
Well, these are big questions, aren’t they? Sometimes skeptics even use these questions to discredit the goodness of God. They say, “If God is so good, why is there suffering and injustice?” I’ll tell you why. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.
Sometimes God calls us to suffer and to experience trials. But when he does, he always gives us the faith to endure… no matter what comes!
So if hardship has come your way, keep trusting. Let your faith in God be stubborn and steadfast!
A FAITH THAT CANNOT BE TESTED IS A FAITH THAT CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
