³⁴ For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.

Previewing the walk of faith that is amply illustrated in chapter 11 of this letter to the Hebrews, we see the first specific mention of affirmed persecution for faith—confiscation of property and imprisonment as a direct result of their faith. This is not a new or even unexpected experience for Christians. We will see in a few chapters that Christ, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2).

The believers to whom the apostle is writing knew full well and lived out what Jesus had told His disciples, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt 5:11–12). They accepted their persecution with joy.

They may have been familiar with the early experience of the apostles. After the religious leaders had tortured them, “They went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name?” (Acts 5:41).

Faithful followers of Christ are not some sort of spiritual masochists who enjoy pain. But, the capacity to experience joy and well-being despite our suffering for our loyalty to Christ, is nothing other than a “God-thing.” It is supernatural, other-worldly and can be explained in no other way. We have “as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast …” (Heb 6:19). We can “rest” in our relationship with God, in the midst of all uncertainty of suffering and difficulty. The knowledge of the future secures us with a certainty that transcends the temporary, fleeting world of difficulties here and now. We have something far better to look forward to. We are told and believe that our “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison…” (2 Cor 4:17). “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom 8:18). The Hebrews, and we, need to remind ourselves of this great hope that we have clung to, especially as we don’t just endure our sufferings in this world, but engage our sufferings in faith.

Lord, thank You for the joy You give in the middle of suffering. Help me see all my trials as integral to my walk of faith and knowing You more.