Always Rejoicing

In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers. Serious about their faith, these men and women were willing to go to great lengths to find a home where they freely could worship God.

Many of these “pilgrims” had experienced various forms of opposition and hoped to find freedom in America, in spite of enormous risks.

The journey by ship itself was perilous. Packed into tight, uncomfortable quarters, on a journey that lasted seven weeks, conditions often were horribly inhospitable. But on their voyage they experienced an unexpected form of persecution from the very crew they had hired to man the ship.

As authors Peter Marshall and David Manuel describe, several crew members “had taken to mocking them unmercifully.” One man so disliked the pilgrims “he would gloat at their seasickness.” In particular he ridiculed their “psalm singing.” Confident that many would die aboard ship, he even proclaimed how delighted he would be to “feed them to the fish.”

But a surprise awaited this crew member. Suddenly he became ill and died after only a brief illness. Meanwhile, trusting in God, the pilgrims remained healthy. “Thereafter, there was no more mocking from the crew.”

Jesus warned that we should not be surprised if we face opposition. Many in the world simply do not believe the Gospel. They reject the possibility that God exists. That He desires to bless us, and have an intimate relationship with us. That He is with us, to guide, protect, and provide for us.

In your life, renew your commitment to serve Him, regardless of what others may say or do. And remember, you always can rejoice in Him!