Finding Joy in Hardship

EMQ » Oct – Dec 2025 » Volume 61 Issue 4

Summary: Rejoice always, even in the midst of hardship. We can learn from Paul through the letter he wrote to the church in Philippi during his time of suffering. Paul instructs us to find joy in ministry – in the partners he provides for us, the proclamation of the gospel, the unity we possess with believers, the privilege to serve others, friendships that are formed, and fruitfulness of lives impacted. Ultimately, we can find joy in the Lord Himself regardless of our situations.

By Ed Grudier

Rejoice always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Obeying the command of 1 Thessalonians 5:16 can be challenging for those serving cross-culturally. After all, there are myriad hardships that cross-cultural workers face that can drain joy. For those who, like me, are not linguistically gifted, language learning brings with it a host of discouragements and frustrations. Learning another culture can confuse even the most astute of workers. The high turnover of team members due to conflict, children struggling to cope in an overseas setting, or any number of other reasons, can result in a deep sense of loss. The lack of interest or response to the message of the good news, believers who fall into grievous and destructive sins, or who completely turn away from the faith, can drain the spiritual and emotional fortitude of the stoutest of workers. Then there are the long, dark paths of loneliness, isolation, or the death of a spouse, child, or close friend. How do we maintain joy when we get shackled with so many weights of grief, disappointment, sadness, and sorrow?

It is instructive to remember that Paul, who wrote this command to rejoice always, was himself a cross-cultural worker who faced many issues that threatened to rob him of joy. In 2 Corinthians, Paul gives two lists of some of the hardships he faced on his missionary journeys. These include: imprisonments, sleepless nights, hunger, poverty, floggings, beatings, being stoned, and shipwrecked (6:4–10; 11:23–29). Paul knew hardship, but he also knew joy. He writes to one of his supporting churches, Philippi, while imprisoned in chains, and shares with them seven reasons that he (and therefore they, and we) can experience joy even amid extreme hardship. Paul instructs us to find joy in ministry – in the partners he provides for us, the proclamation of the gospel, the unity we possess with believers, the privilege to serve others, friendships that are formed, and fruitfulness of lives impacted. Ultimately, we can find joy in the Lord Himself regardless of our situations.

Partnership in the Gospel

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3–5)

Sitting in prison, likely chained between two Roman guards, Paul uses his time to pray. He prays with joy for the members of his supporting churches. The source of his joy is their partnership with him in his ministry of proclaiming the gospel. The church in Philippi helped Paul in his ministry both spiritually, by sharing in his troubles (4:14), and practically, by supporting him financially (4:15–16).

When you are facing hardships and discouragements in ministry, take time to shift your focus from the hardships to the churches and individuals who partner with you in your ministry. Reflect on and give thanks for all of those who pray for you, financially support you, show kindness to you when you are on home assignment by lending a car, providing a place to stay, showing hospitality, and those precious partners who sit with you for hours, eager to hear more details about your ministry. You will likely experience joy in knowing that you have people who love you and are partners with you in your gospel ministry.

The Spread of the Gospel

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Philippians 1:18)

Paul maintained the perspective that God was using his hardship, in this case his imprisonment, to advance the gospel (1:12). His imprisonment gave him the opportunity to witness to the guards to whom he was chained, resulting in the entire imperial guard and beyond knowing about Christ. In addition, it emboldened many believers to overcome fear and proclaim the gospel (1:13–14). Unfortunately, it also led to some proclaiming Christ for wrong motives (1:15–17). However, this does not appear to bother Paul. He finds joy in knowing that the good news of Jesus is being shared. Paul was happy to put the fame and glory of Jesus above his own personal comfort.

Admittedly, rejoicing in the spread of the gospel can be a hard perspective to maintain. After all, if we are not actually seeing people come to faith as a result of our suffering, is the gospel really advancing? Perhaps it is a matter of how we frame the question. Paul does not state that Roman guards, or that anyone else for that matter, have come to faith. Rather, Paul sees the gospel advancing when people who may not have otherwise had a chance to hear the gospel are now hearing it. Paul sees the proclamation of the truth about Christ as the gospel advancing, whether or not it is received with faith. If our hardships result in people being able to hear about the hope that lives within us, then we should echo the heart of Paul, “Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (1:18).

To be clear, lost people being found does result in joy (see Luke 15). If you are serving among a people group where there is not yet great response to the gospel, it is a good practice to rejoice in the parts of the world where many are receiving the gospel message. Keep in touch with what God is doing in the world by reading the prayer updates of cross-cultural workers serving in different parts of the world from you. And keep the perspective that the seeds you are now sowing among the resistant people group you are serving may result in future generations rejoicing when the breakthrough occurs.

Unity Among Believers

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (Philippians 2:1–2)

Having spoken of finding joy in the spread of the gospel, Paul highlights a key element for seeing this occur – unity among believers. This unity should be the natural result of believers having encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, and participation in the Holy Spirit (2:1). This unity should be reflected in love, like-mindedness and being “together in soul”[i] (2:2). Paul is reflecting here Jesus’ belief, displayed in his prayer, that unity among believers helps spur faith in the unbelieving (John 17:21).

Unfortunately, too often this kind of unity is not experienced by those serving in missions. Thirty-five years ago, when I was a Bible college student, it was stated that the number one reason for missionaries leaving their field of service prematurely was relational conflicts with other missionaries. Sadly, it appears that this unfortunate truth remains today. But this struggle for unity among missionaries is not a new or recent challenge. Anthony Brammall writes of Mabel Green, a WEC missionary in Brazil in 1929, vexed by the disunity she observed: “As a spiritually and relationally perceptive person, she was acutely aware of the potential for the devil’s strategies of discord to undermine the work of the gospel. One particularly problematic relationship between two colleagues drove her to frequent prayer for reconciliation. ‘They are not pulling together. One feels it keenly,’ she noted with dismay. ‘Oh for a spirit of unity! Bring unity again, Lord, for otherwise how can they work effectively?’”[ii] Mabel was correct; disunity profoundly hinders the effectiveness of the missionary effort.

Lack of unity among missionary co-workers brings sadness, hurt, grief, ineffectiveness, and potential premature departure from missionary service. But the flipside to this, as Jesus and Paul highlight, is that unity can add attractiveness to the gospel. Unity with other believers can take time, effort, patient listening, and much prayer. But it is a battle worth fighting, for when unity is achieved and maintained, it furthers the gospel and therefore can be a great source of joy.

Sacrificial Service to Others

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:17–18)

Paul uses the drink offering imagery from Numbers 28:7 to show that his life has been poured out in sacrificial service to the Philippian church and building up of their faith. As Paul faces the real possibility of his current internment ending in his death, he finds joy in knowing that he has used his life to sacrificially serve others. Not only this, but he encourages the Philippian believers to rejoice along with him in this truth. Paul knows of no better way to use his life than for the building up of God’s kingdom. Nate Saint, who would eventually give his life for the gospel, had a similar perspective: “And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”[iii]

Serving in long-term missionary service requires many sacrifices. There are weddings, births of nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, funerals of friends and family members, anniversaries, and many family gatherings that are missed. Friendships back home drift apart, as life priorities and experiences increasingly diverge. There is the painful path of loneliness. Elisabeth Elliot understood this hardship well, “Perhaps no part of the cost of being a foreign missionary is greater than the loneliness.”[iv] The sacrifices are numerous, but if we focus only on what we are losing, it is easy for discontentment, envy, or bitterness to set in. Paul reminds us to find joy in the privilege of being able to live a life of sacrificial service to others for the furthering of God’s kingdom. When we get to the end of our life, we will find peace in knowing that this was indeed the best way to pour out our life for Him.

Reuniting with a Friend

I am eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor such men. (Philippians 2:28–29)

One life skill in which missionaries become quite proficient is saying goodbye. Goodbyes never get easier, but parting with family, friends, and even fellow missionaries is an integral aspect of a missionary’s life. Paul sends Epaphroditus, his co-worker, back to his home church in Philippi, after a severe illness in which he almost died. Paul encourages Epaphroditus’ home church to receive him with joy.

Sometimes missionaries need to release their co-workers to return to their home countries for various reasons: health issues, visa problems, care for aging parents, children’s education, another ministry calling, to name just a few of the most common. Release them with joy and with the anticipation that their return will bring joy to others. We can find joy in other people’s joy.

This also provides the opportunity for you to have joy when you see them again. My wife and I departed from our co-workers, HansPeter and Ann, on great terms. The church we planted was ready to be led by national leaders. Despite the joy of that reason, separating from our co-workers with whom we experienced so much joy and hardship, was exceedingly difficult. In the twenty-three years since that departure, we have seen each other only a handful of times. We made a trip to Switzerland, and we met a few times back in the city in West Asia in which we served. But each time we have been reunited, it has been with joy so great that we have been moved to tears. The constant goodbyes can be draining and demoralizing for missionaries, but they set the stage for great joys in reunions, both here on this earth and when we are gathered around the throne worshipping Jesus together.

Fruit in Ministry

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (Philippians 4:1)

Paul planted the church in Philippi on his second missionary journey, around A.D. 50, and he wrote this letter to them roughly 12 years later. His affection for them is obvious as he tells them of his love for them, his longing for them, and that they, the fruit of his ministry, are his joy and crown. Paul writes something similar to the church in Thessalonica: “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19–20). Paul learned to find joy, even while suffering in prison, in the fruit that God had graciously given to him in ministry.

Ministry is rife with discouragements, setbacks, failures, afflictions, suffering and hardships. Developing, like Paul, the practice of reflecting on God’s work in the lives of people to whom you have ministered helps to bring the counterweight of joy. Take time to remember the ways God has worked in the lives of people to whom you have ministered – people who experienced new birth, answered prayers, victory over entrenched sins, growth in faith and obedience. If you have not seen this yet in your field of service, reflect on the fruit God gave to you before you arrived, and rejoice. Let that joy fuel your faith for what God will do in the future among those to whom you are currently ministering.

In the Lord

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Paul ends with the most compelling reason that we can find joy in the midst of hardship: the Lord Himself. We can find joy in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in because God is good, kind, gracious, merciful, near, and He never changes. Elisabeth Elliot knew her fair share of hardships, losing her first husband to martyrdom and her second to cancer. In discussing finding joy in the difficulties of life, she wrote, “So what is there to be grateful for in the midst of suffering? Well, God is still love. Nothing has changed that. God is still God. He’s sovereign. He’s got the whole world in His hands… Love still wills my joy. Now I can always thank God for all of those things.”[v]

Whatever hardship you are encountering now, no matter how soul-crushing, devastating, demoralizing, or discouraging it is, the truth remains that Jesus loved you enough to die for you, the Holy Spirit lives within you, and you are still the Father’s beloved child. Rejoice in these truths. Rejoice in the Lord always.

Conclusion

Paul shows us that one of the keys to finding joy in the midst of hardship is to focus on spiritual, eternal truths, not on our temporal physical and/or emotional suffering. This does not mean a denial of the difficulties of the hardships we are enduring. It is possible to both experience suffering and joy, grief and joy, hardship and joy, loneliness and joy. Jerry Sittser knew pain, sorrow, and grief well. His mother, wife, and daughter were all killed in a car accident when they were hit by a drunk driver. He wrote of his experience, “The soul is elastic, like a balloon. It can grow larger through suffering… Once enlarged, the soul is also capable of experiencing greater joy, strength, peace, and love. What we consider opposites – east and west, night and light, sorrow and joy, weakness and strength, anger and love, despair and hope, death and life – are no more mutually exclusive than winter and sunlight. The soul has the capacity to experience these opposites, even at the same time.”[vi]

Rejoice always, even in the midst of hardship. We can learn from Paul through the letter he wrote to the church in Philippi during his time of suffering. Ministry is ultimately about the gospel and people. Joy is experienced when we take time to reflect on God building His church in areas where it had not previously existed, resisting the temptation to be self-focused by sacrificially serving others, and appreciating the gift of the fruit of transformed lives through our ministry. We also experience joy when we appreciate God’s good gift of people He blesses us with in ministry – ministry partners who pray and financially support us, friendships that develop through ministering together, and the unity that the Holy Spirit desires to create in his children. Ultimately, our greatest joy comes from the immutable character of our awesome God and the relationship we have with Him through Jesus Christ.

[i] Gordon Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 185.

[ii] Anthony Brammall, Never Going Home: Mabel Green and the heart of Amazonia (SMBC Press, 2021), 71–72.

[iii] “A Biography of Nate Saint: Missionary to the Huaorani of Ecuador,” Missionary Portal, accessed, April 4, 2025, https://missionaryportal.webflow.io/biography/nate-saint.

[iv] Elisabeth Elliot, A Chance to Die (Revell, 1997), 78.

[v] Elisabeth Elliot, Suffering is Never for Nothing (B&H Publishing Group, 2019), 40.

[vi] Jerry Sittser, A Grace Disguised (Zondervan, 2004), 48.

Ed Grudier serves as the Director for the Centre of Cross-Cultural Mission at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. He previously served for 14 years as the Missions Pastor at Cherrydale Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia. He and his late wife, Kathy, also served as missionaries with WEC International for 14 years, 12 of them in West Asia.