Christians throughout the centuries have been persecuted, rejected, and martyred for their faith. Why does the world seem to hate us so much? Paul Nyquist, in his book Prepare: Living Your Faith in an Increasingly Hostile Culture, lists 3 reasons. And while we can’t avoid these truths, there is an important word of caution we need to consider.
We live in a culture where biblical Christianity is increasingly viewed as intolerant, offensive, or even harmful. Beliefs that were once widely accepted can now cost Christians friendships, opportunities, reputations, and sometimes much more.
Yet none of this should surprise us. Jesus told His followers that persecution would come. The question is: Are we prepared for it?
If greater opposition comes, will we respond with fear, anger, or compromise? Or will we have developed the kind of faith that enables us to stand firm, love our enemies, speak the truth, and trust God with the consequences?
Preparation for persecution doesn’t begin when the pressure becomes severe. It begins now—in what we feed our minds, how well we know God’s Word, how we respond to everyday mistreatment, and whether pleasing Christ is truly our greatest goal.
It’s becoming harder and harder to find peace.
We watch the news and wonder what happened to our nation. We see evil celebrated, biblical truth rejected, and hostility toward Christianity increasing. Even in our own lives, disappointments, unanswered prayers, and difficult circumstances can leave us asking, “Why isn’t life better than this?”
But what if our discouragement points to something deeper?
Today’s readings reveal two very different responses to hardship. Israel had God’s miraculous provision every day, yet remained dissatisfied. The early church faced intense persecution, yet experienced remarkable joy as the gospel spread.
What’s the difference?
And could the secret to lasting peace and contentment have far less to do with our circumstances than we imagine?
What would you do if someone threatened you for talking about Jesus?
Would you become more cautious? More silent? More fearful?
Most of us probably would.
But in today’s reading, Peter and John do something completely unexpected. After being threatened by powerful religious leaders and ordered to stop preaching about Christ, they don’t pray for safety. They don’t ask God to remove the opposition. And they don’t retreat.
Instead, they ask for something surprising.
Why would persecution make them bolder rather than more fearful? What did they understand about God that allowed them to see threats differently than most of us do?
And what if opposition, criticism, and even persecution are opportunities for God to do something greater than we ever imagined?
Today’s readings challenge us to think differently about hardship, courage, and the sovereignty of God.
“Can anything good come from persecution?”
It’s not a question most of us are eager to answer.
We don’t usually think of persecution as something beneficial. We think of it as painful… unfair… something to avoid if at all possible.
And while it’s true that not all persecution is extreme or life-threatening, it still cuts deep. Sometimes it comes quietly—in the form of rejection, misunderstanding, or subtle opposition. And sometimes it comes from the people closest to us, which can make it even harder to bear.
So what do we do with it?
More importantly, what does God do with it?
Scripture shows us that God doesn’t waste even these painful experiences. He can use persecution in ways we might not expect—for our growth and for His glory.
But that leads to a deeper question:
How will we respond when it comes?
Will we respond in ways that allow God to work in us and through us… or will we miss what He intends to do?
Let’s take a closer look.
It’s hard to ignore the growing tension around truth.
In many places today, truth is no longer seen as fixed—but something to be defined, shaped, or even rejected. And for those who look to God’s Word as their authority, that shift can make everyday life more complicated.
Some Christians find it increasingly difficult to live and work without feeling pressure to compromise their convictions. In certain settings, simply standing for what Scripture calls right can bring criticism, misunderstanding, or even opposition.
So where do we place our hope?
It’s tempting to look to cultural shifts or political solutions for protection. And while those may influence things for a time, they can’t ultimately solve a spiritual problem.
Which leads to a more important question:
How do we prepare ourselves to stand firm in a world where truth is continually being challenged?
Let’s take a closer look.
Things in our culture are changing rapidly. Many believe the attacks on biblical principles, the marginalization of our beliefs, the loss of our freedoms, and the persecution toward us as believers will continue to increase. How will we respond to the challenges? Will we stay true to what we say we believe? Will we continue to stand up for biblical truth when it’s unpopular? What if it were outlawed? What can we do to prepare ourselves for what could happen?
Through the centuries, Christians have been burned at the stake, sawed in two, and crucified. They have been shot, fed to lions, and forced to choose between their faith and their freedom. Many were gassed along with the Jews for harboring their Jewish neighbors. These were people who were committed to their faith.
But according to Voice of the Martyrs, “More men and women are being persecuted today for Jesus than at any other time in human history. Millions of Christians face intense persecution and risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel.”
The Bible teaches that in the last days, evil, including every kind of persecution will continue to grow. But here in the US, we often feel somewhat insulated from all this. Most of us, probably, can’t imagine beheadings or people being burned alive here. But what if we were faced with the choice to stand up or betray Christ in the face of intense persecution? Would we be as committed to our faith as other believers around the world or as Christians in times past?
And I wonder, are we as committed to our faith as many of our Muslim neighbors are to theirs?
What if next year really could be your best year ever in God’s Word?
Not because you found the perfect app.
Not because you heard better sermons.
And not because you squeezed in a verse or two whenever you had a spare minute.
But because you finally decided to wade in deeper.
In Ezekiel’s final chapters, the prophet sees a remarkable river flowing from the temple.
At first, the water is shallow.
Then it rises.
Ankle deep.
Knee deep.
Deeper still.
Until eventually it is water deep enough to swim in.
It’s a beautiful picture for thinking about our own relationship with Scripture.
Some truths are easy to grasp.
Others require more time, study, prayer, and careful thought.
And some remind us that we will never exhaust the depths of who God is.
So here’s the question:
Are you content to stay where the water is shallow?
Or could this be the year you finally wade in?
We’ll also look at Peter’s words to believers facing trials and persecution and four attitudes that can help us respond faithfully when life gets hard.
Few things test us like being treated unfairly.
When someone misjudges us, criticizes us, speaks against us, or treats us harshly, our first instinct is often to defend ourselves, strike back, or make sure the other person understands exactly how wrong he or she has been.
But Peter wrote to Christians who knew far more than ordinary inconvenience or hurt feelings.
They were suffering for their faith.
And instead of telling them to demand better treatment, Peter told them something that runs against almost every natural instinct we have.
He told them to live honorably.
To submit where submission was appropriate.
To endure unjust suffering without returning evil for evil.
And to follow Christ’s example.
That doesn’t mean wrong treatment becomes right.
It does raise a searching question:
When someone sins against us, what does our response reveal about who we trust to judge rightly?
And could our reaction to unfair treatment say as much about our faith as the mistreatment itself?
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