I have heard testimonies from missionaries and those in prison for the sake of the gospel. Whatever their individual sufferings, there is one thing most hold in common. The captors feed them sparingly, if at all. The food has often been rancid and sometimes contained worms. Other times it had poor nourishment having been watered down so much that it barely held flavor of any sort.
In each of these stories, though the believer may have struggled with fear and anger, he or she learned to give thanks to God for what they received. In many cases the prisoner remained healthy despite poor nourishment. Much like the believers in Hebrew chapter eleven, others did not receive deliverance but suffered malnutrition. But in all cases, they testify of the grace and love of Christ as he poured out blessing into their spirits even in the presence of their enemies.
It is important to give thanks for our food, not glibly, not with resentment, but with gratefulness for what God has chosen to set before us (1 Timothy 4:4).
