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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: There’s a Bible verse that says we should pray for those who persecute us. This is troubling to me. What person can really do that? – P.E.

 

Dear P.E.: Persecution brings terrible pain, but those who persecute us are to be the objects of our prayers. God Himself is the power that makes prayer work. Consider what Jesus taught about prayer, for He is the One who said, “Pray for those who … persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). We are to plead for our enemies – just as Jesus prayed for His crucifiers – asking God to lead them to Christ and, for His sake, to forgive them. Prayer is key to our effort to communicate the Gospel and win people to Him.

We need to remember that with God nothing is impossible. No task is too arduous, no problem too difficult, no burden too heavy for Him. We cannot put our will above His. We cannot insist on our way. In fact, when we pray for those who do us wrong, God is pleased when we have a spirit of thankfulness; that He will give us the power to persevere in the midst of hardship.

Only God’s grace and peace can carry us through times of trial. We can look to Scripture to see many others who experienced persecution and pointed others to Christ. Paul endured many hardships. His attitude was not that of self-pity, but one of triumph. He wrote, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, NKJV).

God has never sent any difficulty into the life of His children without His accompanying offers of help in this life and reward in the life to come. This is our hope and our assurance.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)