How should I respond when I am persecuted for my faith?

Psalm 69:1-36Save me, O God, . . . Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head.

Prayer is a powerful response in times of persecution. Pray to God, the only one who can give you the strength you need to endure. Note that the psalmist did not try to edit or clean up his prayer but freely voiced his anxiety, anger, desire for revenge, and longing to see the tables turned to God. Once he had expressed both his human and godly perspectives, he was in a better place to accept God’s will and plan.

Acts 14:19-20They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town.

Paul’s courageous response to persecution enabled him to encourage others. Courage to endure persecution is contagious.

Matthew 5:11“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”

Matthew 10:21-25“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!”

Philippians 1:27-30You have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

1 Peter 4:13These trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

The Bible encourages us to see the rewards of persecution, which helps us keep going when times get especially tough. Chief among these is the recognition that if the Son of God was persecuted, his followers should expect no less.

Matthew 5:44“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

Luke 6:27-36“To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you.”

Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.

A supernatural love, one that flows from God, allows believers to actually pray for those who persecute them. Persistent kindness is hard to ignore. It may be through your godly response to persecution that God touches a hard heart and turns it to him.

2 Thessalonians 1:5God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.

Be aware that God will use persecution to build your character and faith and to confront the world with his character.

Matthew 27:12When the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.

Revelation 14:12This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

Remain obedient to God and endure persecution patiently, just as Jesus did when he was persecuted.

Revelation 21:4“He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

The knowledge that all suffering will be replaced by the joys of eternal life enables believers to endure.