By Mallory Mattingly
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson understands that in the midst of suffering, it’s up to us to trust Christ and be “obedient.”
“Sometimes as followers of Jesus we spend so much time worrying about trying not to suffer, that we tend to take our eyes off trusting Christ and being obedient,” Henderson wrote in a new post on Instagram. “Don’t get me wrong, the goal is not to suffer and suffering isn’t easy, but the goal is to be faithful and obey even if it comes with suffering.”
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The running back then referenced Matthew 24:13, which reads, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
“We forget that Jesus never promised that this walk with Him would be easy,” he continued. “Jesus said that in this life we will have many trials and tribulations. He said that if this world hated us, remember that it hated Him first. Jesus said that if they persecuted Him, they will persecute us also.”
Henderson wondered why we are “surprised when we suffer and we’re hated for living faithfully for Christ?”
Jesus said in John 15: 18-19, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”
“We spend so much time focusing on what people may say or think, or what we may lose, but the Bible says: ‘What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?‘” the athlete wrote. “Following Jesus isn’t easy and it comes with a cost, but it’s worth it. We are never alone; with God living in us and empowering us, we can endure all things. No matter what we lose out on in this world, what we gain in Christ is far greater.”
He wants to encourage fellow believers to be a light for Christ, even when it’s hard.
“God didn’t place his light in us to dim it. But to shine through us. So let’s shine!” he emphasized.
Henderson concluded his message with Matthew 5:14-16. It reads, “You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
In a world full of suffering and hatred, Christians should continue to trust in God and be obedient to Him, knowing that He has overcome.
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