We really like to emphasize the more pleasant promises of God, but there are promises like this one too—that all who follow God will suffer persecution. Everyone who picks up their cross and follows Jesus will suffer. But there is good news with it too. Those who suffer will find joy in the morning. Sometimes sorrow and suffering will last for a night. Sometimes it will last for a week or a month or for years. But no matter how long it lasts, joy is coming. And when you're in the middle of suffering, you can take joy in knowing that you’re following Jesus. He suffered too. And he made it through to the joy that followed.
