“Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.” —1 Peter 4:13 CSB
The soft life.
Have you heard this phrase before?
The soft life was coined in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
"The term “soft life” originated in the Nigerian influencer community as slang for living a life of comfort and low stress. That is part of what makes soft life content so inspiring: the chance to imagine what life can feel like apart from the realities..." (https://andscape.com/features/the-softlife-isnt-as-easy-as-it-looks-online/).
It represents breaking away from the traditional 9-5 job and the hustle mentality that permeates our culture. It’s a life marked by comfort, ease, relaxation, and pursuing passion instead of status. It is separation from the toxicity of the workplace and how it often consumes our time. We are undoubtedly overworked in our society and often lack balance.
The soft life has been misused, though. Some of us want to feel as if we are on vacation every single day. We want our lives to feel like a constant paradise devoid of trouble.
I’ll admit that I once desired a soft, Christian life. I wanted all that came with following Christ, minus the hardship. We must realize that a soft life requires precaution. If we aren’t careful, our desire for a soft life might lead us to avoid moments and places meant to refine us to become more like Christ.
God consistently refines his people to make them more like him. Being like God is steeped in holiness. Perhaps we must see that we are also refined to be more like Christ through suffering. We often solely view the cross as a means of forgiveness, but we forget what it costs to get there. It was far from easy.
Not only did Jesus suffer on the cross, but he suffered along the way. He knew he would bear the sins of a world that would reject him. He was falsely accused, spat on, and beaten. Jesus even carried his cross. This means that as Christians, we share not only in Jesus’ resurrection power but also in his suffering. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13, CSB).
Jesus faced persecution, and so will we.
The apostle Paul embraced this challenging yet necessary reality using faith. Paul knew and experienced God in such a profound way. He devoted his life to preaching the gospel, establishing churches, and equipping people, especially Gentiles, to walk in the ways of God.
Paul was absolutely clear in his calling, but the call on Paul’s life was far from easy—“Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28 CSB).
Paul suffered tremendously for Christ. Danger was often around him, but he knew God would surround him even more. Through Paul’s suffering, he was refined. Paul, who considered himself the worst of sinners, knew the great lengths that God went to reconcile him to himself so that Paul would become an example to all people of God’s immense patience. There were many trials that Paul faced, but they produced within him a high level of perseverance, maturity, and completeness. He knew God to be a deliverer. Paul had a heart of praise and reverence and was content in any circumstance. His entire being focused on pursuing God. Embracing challenges can lead us to profound spiritual growth and a richer relationship with Him—even when pursuing a soft life.
Paul didn’t let the lashes he received make him lose sight of God. His faith didn’t falter in the middle of the open sea.
Paul had great faith in the face of persecution.
So should we.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you, Jesus, for your incredible sacrifice on the cross, a profound act of love and grace that changed the world. Please help me always remember the immense suffering and pain you endured for my sake and the sake of humanity. May I cultivate a heart that willingly embraces challenges and trials, recognizing that I can grow closer to you and become more like you in character and spirit through suffering? Please strengthen my faith, granting me the boldness to stand firm in my beliefs, especially in the face of persecution or adversity. Let my actions and words reflect your love, even in difficult times. I pray for the courage to share your message, no matter the consequences. Amen.
Your Turn: How do you typically respond when you experience pain or suffering? Is it a physical discomfort or an emotional struggle that prompts your reaction? What underlying beliefs or past experiences influence how you cope in those moments? Do you find specific strategies or techniques compelling, or do you rely on instinctual responses? What drives those reactions—fear, resilience, learned behaviors, or something else?
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Arianna, you gave us a lot to think about in devotion. I often crave the soft life, BUT I crave God's presence even more. Thank you!