We can rejoice in suffering through Christ’s strength…
Paul honestly expressed his heart to the believers in Colosse – “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and I fill up what is lacking of Christ’s afflictions in my flesh, on behalf of His body, which is the church, of which I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God given to me for you, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1: 24-27)
Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote this letter. He was a prisoner because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul understood that his persecution and trials were necessary in order for God to show His power through him. Paul told the Corinthians – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; in every way afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4: 7-12)
Jesus told his disciples before He died – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15: 18-19)
Paul could ‘rejoice’ in his sufferings because he understood that suffering for Christ was a vital part of the gospel. Paul told the Corinthians – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings Christ abound to us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1: 3-5)
After we become believers, God’s Spirit indwells us. The ‘mystery’ spoken of above in the verses from Colossians is that from the time of our new birth in Christ, His Spirit indwells us forever. As believers, we will face persecution. We would do well to remember what Jesus said – “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)
The following information about global persecution is taken from the 2026 Global Persecution Index from the (ICC) International Christian Concern:
Religious Nationalism:
Globally, growing religious nationalism continues to erode religious freedom. In India, militant Hindu groups aligned with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have targeted Christian and Muslim minorities. At the same time, local governments have introduced anti-conversion laws that criminalize basic religious expression. In Myanmar, Buddhist nationalism remains a central justification for the military junta’s ongoing assault on ethnic minority regions, where entire Christian and Muslim villages have been destroyed. Across the world, religious conformity has become a dangerously important litmus test for national identity and belonging.
Transnational Repression:
Governments are increasingly pursuing religious minorities and dissidents abroad. Turkey has intensified its campaign against exiled critics and religious minorities, employing global intelligence networks to surveil and kidnap individuals living in exile. China continues to expand its transnational repression, targeting Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, and those associated with unregistered Christian groups overseas. Reports show Chinese agents pressuring foreign governments to repatriate asylum seekers and intimidating diaspora communities across Asia, Africa, and the West.
State Control of Religious Organizations:
Repressive governments are tightening control over organized religion. In China, regulations grant the state total authority over clerical appointments, online sermons, and even the design of church buildings. Registered churches are required to promote the Communist Party’s ideology, while unregistered congregations face harassment and raids. Vietnam has expanded its system of registration and surveillance of religious bodies, forcing churches to operate within a rigid state approved structure and arresting pastors who refuse to comply.
Terrorism:
In Africa, now the global epicenter of terrorism, jihadist violence continues to escalate. Groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and al-Shabab have strengthened their networks across Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Somalia, while the Islamic State group and al-Qaida affiliates expand operations into the Sahel region and central Africa. Thousands of Christians have been killed or displaced in attacks designed to eradicate the Christian presence from contested territories.
Authoritarianism:
Authoritarian regimes view religious freedom as a direct threat to their survival. In Iran, the hard-line clerical regime continues to imprison Christians, Baha’is, and Muslims who dissent from its ideology. The morality police have returned to the streets, enforcing harsh religious codes with impunity. In Nicaragua, the Ortega-Murillo government has escalated its campaign against the Catholic church, seizing church property, closing religious schools, and jailing clergy who speak against state abuses or dare to operate independently of government restrictions.
Restrictions on Women:
In countless communities around the world, women in disfavored religious groups face especially severe restrictions on their rights and freedoms. In Afghanistan, women remain almost entirely excluded from public life under Taliban rule. Prohibitions on education, employment, and mobility have been enforced as religious decrees, effectively erasing women from society. In Egypt, Christian women face systemic discrimination in the workplace and justice system, where sexual violence and social persecution are rarely punished.
The Use of the West to Persecute:
Repression is increasingly globalized. Investigations have shown that Silicon Valley technology firms have supplied key hardware and software used in China’s surveillance of Uyghurs, Christians, and other religious groups, effectively enabling religious persecution through Western innovation. Meanwhile, repressive states such as Iran and Russia have exploited Western markets and financial loopholes to circumvent sanctions, sustaining their security services and mechanisms for religious control.
Growth of the Church despite Persecution:
Despite mounting repression, Christianity continues to grow in unexpected places. The Iranian house church movement remains one of the fastest growing in the world, driven by underground networks and digital evangelism. In China, believers meet in homes and encrypted online gatherings despite constant surveillance, proving again that faith can endure even where freedom does not.
Popular Discontent with Repression:
While authoritarianism remains entrenched, it faces growing resistance. In Myanmar, prodemocracy forces continue to challenge the military junta, often uniting across religious and ethnic lines. Turkey’s opposition movements have defied crackdowns to organize mass demonstrations demanding free elections and the restoration of civil liberties. And in Iran, the courage of women and community leaders has fueled ongoing protests that expose the regime’s moral and political fragility.
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