I had prepared myself for prison and torture as a soldier in peacetime prepares for the hardships of war. I had studied the lives of Christians who had faced similar pains and temptations to surrender and thought how I might adapt their experiences. Many who had not so prepared themselves were crushed by suffering, or deluded into saying what they should not.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the importance of mental and spiritual preparation for facing adversity, drawing parallels to soldiers preparing for war.
Richard Wurmbrand emphasizes the necessity of preparation when confronted with suffering and persecution, likening it to how a soldier readies himself for the tough conditions of battle. He illustrates that understanding the experiences of others who have endured similar hardships can equip an individual to withstand their own challenges, as those who are unprepared may falter under pressure or abandon their beliefs.
In practice
During a speech about resilience in the face of challenges.
There was once a fiddler who played so beauitully that everybody danced. A deaf man who could not hear the music considered them all insane. Those who are with Jesus in suffering hear this music to which other men are deaf. They dance and do not care if they are considered insane.
Some tell me Preach the pure gospel! This reminds me that the Communist secret police also told me to preach Christ, but not to mention communism. Is it really so, that those who are for what is called a pure gospel are inspired by the same spirit as those of the Communist secret police?
Christians are meant to have the same vocation as their King, that of cross-bearers. It is this conscience of a high calling and of partnership with Jesus which brings gladness in tribulations, which makes Christians enter prisons for their faith with the joy of a bridegroom entering the bridal room.
It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their [the communists' ] terms. It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.
God will judge us not according to how much we endured, but how much we could love
A faith that can be destroyed by suffering is not faith.
The world needs heroes and it's better they be harmless men like me than villains like Hitler
I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished if we don't take any chances at all.
In the same way that slavery was a moral challenge for the 19th century and totalitarianism was a challenge for the 20th century, the challenge that women and girls face around the world is the moral challenge of our time.
I started being really proud of the fact that I was gay even though I wasn't.
Only cowards hide behind silence.
I have accepted fear as a part of life - specifically the fear of change... I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back.
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