Life is hard! Suffering and brokenness feel like a normal part of our daily lives. However, just as he did with the Apostle Paul, the Lord is seeking to encourage us today by reminding us to have courage. For the Christian, we have no need to fear because we are never alone, the Lord is always with us!

What if following Christ led you into suffering instead of comfort — would you still obey? In “Chained in Obedience,” Pastor Josiah unpacks Paul’s costly journey to Jerusalem in Acts 21:15–36 — a story that reminds us that following Christ faithfully does not guarantee comfort, favor, or safety. Paul’s obedience led him into chains, not away from them. Yet through those chains, God advanced the gospel and displayed His sovereignty. Paul’s example calls believers to embrace the truth that faithful obedience often includes suffering, and that despite persecution God’s plan still succeeds! The same Lord who ruled over Paul’s prison cell reigns over every trial we face today, turning our suffering into a testimony of His grace and power.

As Paul journeys toward Jerusalem, the Spirit repeatedly warns him that suffering awaits. Friends beg him not to go, but Paul’s response cuts to the core of discipleship: “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.” This is not reckless ambition—it’s the fruit of a heart transformed by the Gospel. The Gospel calls us to die to self, strengthens us to endure hardship, and assures us that death itself has been conquered. Paul’s resolve reminds us that following Christ was never meant to be safe, but it is always worth it. When the Spirit calls you into costly obedience, will you shrink back—or press forward, trusting that Jesus is worth it?