Knowing that hardship is inevitable, we can be encouraged to know that Jesus will give us the strength to keep trusting him.
Stephen was eager to act on God’s promises. He went to his local synagogue, he spoke of Jesus, and he tried his best to present the gospel clearly. When there were objections, he continued to speak in love. Filled with the Spirit, God helped him. He gave him the right words to say, just as Jesus had promised (Luke 12:11–12; Luke 21:12–19). He is a model of godly obedience in the face of persecution.
As Christians, none of us can be as holy as Jesus but we can be faithful to him. By his Spirit he is at work in us to help us grow in our confidence in his promises and obedience to his commands. When we look at Stephen we must not see a hero who is nothing like me, but a man whom God strengthened. If God strengthened him so that he was faithful in a time of trial, then God can and will strengthen me for the same.
Some of us may be called to risk our lives for the sake of obedience to Christ. Some of us may be called to risk our jobs. Each of us will be in a different position and the Lord expects us to be obedient to him where he has placed us. Whilst it is good to reflect on what might happen in the future, we must not allow the prospect of suffering to make us miserable or overwhelm our thoughts. Our focus must be on today and tomorrow. Trusting God today, trusting him tomorrow. Obeying him today, obeying him tomorrow. He will provide the grace we need (Lamentations 3:23) and if we are faithful to him on a daily basis where life is more simple, we prepare ourselves to be faithful in those pressure situations whenever they might come.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.