So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you yourselves became an example to all the Christians in Greece. 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Maybe it’s something minor – you’re cut off in traffic and stuck in a long line trying to get home. Maybe it’s major – you’re losing your job due to someone else’s error or incompetence. No matter what the scale, how we act in the midst of pain is a great reflection on our faith. Like it or not, people who see us as Christians look to us to see what faith is and, more importantly, who God is. If we react to pain by turning bitter and seeking revenge, then people see God as a bitter and vengeful God out to punish us. If we cower and flee, people see God as one who abandons us when we are in our deepest struggles. But if we respond in joy and peace, we show confidence in God to give us strength to make it through.

What example are you setting with your faith? Does your reaction to pain and struggle reflect a deep trust that God will provide? Are you painting an accurate picture of who God is by how you react? People are looking to us to see God – are you reflecting the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ?