A few years ago I received a heartbreaking letter from a lady I will call Jane. Jane had written me in response to an article I had written about powerful hurts. She just needed to unload to someone else she felt would care and could sympathize with her.

Jane and her husband had felt the call of the Lord to a certain area of Christian work, henceforth; they set out to begin. As the Lord opened doors of opportunity for them things were a little rough and progress was slow yet they were certain they were where the Lord called them. As things picked up and their little work was seeing improvement, souls were being saved, and lives were being changed, Satan hit hard. Jane and her husband started to be harassed by another Christian. This Christian started attacking their character to the people among whom they were working. He made claims and innuendoes that brought suspicion on why these people were really there. This Christian's attack soon hindered their work and left the couple shattered. Jane and her husband could not understand why this other Christian, whom they knew previously, would try to cause so much damage by making such untrue accusations about them. Jane went on to say she expected opposition from the outside world, but when they received it from another Christian she was devastated. Needless to say I felt so bad for Jane and her husband. As we corresponded she told how this other Christian kept following them around causing trouble wherever they tried to work. I felt Jane was ready to have a nervous breakdown from all this pressure, yet all I could do was to reassure her that God was in control and would take care of the situation.

It has been some time since I have heard from Jane, but recently I was given a vivid picture of what she went through and of her pitiful situation. I knew that all who tried to live their lives the way the Lord was leading would suffer persecution, but when it hits home it really hurts nonetheless. 11 Timothy 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Paul had Christian as well as non-Christians turn against him. In 11 Timothy Demas forsook him and Alexander caused him much harm, so why are we shocked when the same thing happens to us?

The Lord has been giving me such wonderful words of encouragement and I want to share it with others who are being persecuted for taking a stand for our Lord and Saviour. There will always be someone, be it Christian or non-Christian, who will try to ruin anything you are doing for the Lord. Never let that thought out of your mind. Also we are not to try to run interference with what they are doing. The Lord promised to do that for us. That is not our job. If we try to justify what we are doing or why another is trying to ruin our character we only add fuel to their fire.

At our church we are studying the book of Nehemiah. Isn't it wonderful how the Lord already has in progress our comfort whenever things come up against us? Nehemiah was trying to accomplish what God laid on his heart to do and what happens; he gets accused of every false thing there is. He is accused of setting himself up as some kind of ruler, of trying to cause a rebellion against the king, and on and on. His accusers can't get him to stop his work so they become angrier and get others on their side through lies and deception. My how things have not changed in our world today. What did Nehemiah do to all this harassment? Nehemiah did exactly what Paul did and exactly what God wants us to do today. Turn it over to God to handle. There is nothing we can do to correct the situation, and even though it hurts to be falsely accused; our God is still in control. Bless His Holy Name!

In one of my daily devotionals my verses to read were found in Matthew 5:11-16. What great comfort as I read "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you....." Was that a coincidence that was my devotional for that particular time of my need? Absolutely not! God knew beforehand what I would need and He provided the encouragement to help me get through this, and He wants to do the same for you.

In closing I would like to share 11 Corinthians 4: 8-9 "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." and Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Amen and Amen!

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