The Holy Spirit Gives Perseverance

A common misconception is that life with Jesus should be easy. In Acts 6-7, however, we see that Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, faced severe opposition and persecution. But his suffering is not a sign that God abandoned him. As we will see, the opposite is true.

Watch this clip about Stephen’s life.

Did you notice the posture Stephen takes in this clip? When encountered by injustice, fear, and death, Stephen does not try to protect himself; he looks up to heaven and sees glimpses of God’s glory.

This is a powerful contrast to our usual instinct in the face of suffering or pressure: to turn inward, self-protect, shut down, or try to escape. Opposition has a way of draining our energy to go on, but what we see in Stephen is an individual who is filled with the Spirit and empowered to persevere under extreme pressure.

Stephen’s story reminds us that the Spirit does not just give us words to say or strength to endure, but also reorients our gaze—lifting it off of ourselves and fixing it on the glory of God.

This Spirit is eager to help you see God’s glory even in your darkest and most painful moments. In fact, it is often in your hardest struggles that the Spirit is present, giving you strength to persevere and eyes to see God at work.

Reflection:

Are your eyes focused on the pain of your surroundings, or are you looking towards God right in the middle of your struggle?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, refocus my eyes away from the heaviness of my circumstances. Help me see Your glory and goodness even in the struggle.