“Remember Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:8).1 After using the images of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer to motivate Timothy to endure suffering for Christ’s sake, Paul calls on his son in the faith to fix his heart on Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:3 gives us a parallel command to consider the endurance of Jesus in suffering, “so that you [we] will not grow weary and lose heart.” Let’s examine a few prayer requests from passages about our Lord’s suffering. May the Lord answer these prayers to help us endure hardship. Remember Jesus Christ!
Remember His purity of character.
First Peter 2:21 reveals that Christ provided an example for His people, “for you to follow in His steps” while suffering. The following verses point to His avoidance of sin, particularly sins of speech. He did not deceive, revile, or threaten.
We know the temptation to be angry or to lash out with belittling sarcasm toward those who hurt us. In our day, it is all too common for Christians to mock and demean public figures who oppose Biblical positions and Christian doctrine. It is common, but it is not Christlike. Let us pray that God would help us endure hardship with the purity of Christ, remembering that the gentle (not the sharp or quick-witted) will inherit the earth (see Matthew 5:5).
Remember His trust in the Father.
The same passage in 1 Peter 2 says that instead of threatening others He “kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (2:23).
We often feel pressure to “straighten people out” or “make things turn out” the right way, as if everything depended on our power or ingenuity! Unfortunately, that burden can lead us to be manipulative and controlling toward others. Let us pray that God would help us endure hardship with the faith of Christ, remembering that the Righteous Judge will perfectly settle all accounts.
Remember His expectation of joy.
Our Lord endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). He looked forward to taking His place at the right hand of His Father, exalted over all. Much of His joy must have come from His confidence that the reward for His suffering would include sinners from every nation gathered around His throne forever, praising the Lamb Who was slain. As a result of His sacrifice, He would “see His offspring” (Isaiah 53:10) and “be satisfied” (53:11).
If we know Jesus, we are part of His reward. Let that truth stir us to follow Him into suffering for His sake. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). Do we understand what it will take to reach some places with the Gospel? Let us pray that God would help us endure hardship with the joyful anticipation that Jesus Himself possessed, remembering the fruit that God will produce through our self-denying suffering for His glory.
This article was first published in GFA’s Summer/Fall 2025 issue of Sowing & Reaping.
1 Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the NASB® New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.