God Is Watching Over Us When We Are Persecuted

This morning my attention was drawn to the story of a woman who is a champion of the rights of the unborn, in a different country from mine and has been threatened in every conceivable way because of her Biblical stance on life.

I could hardly believe some of the threats she has received… to kill an elderly member of her family, to go after her own children, to harass her to death, and saying she was not qualified to serve in any capacity because of her stand.

My heart went out to this sister in Christ, to the point of my feeling led to write a letter of thanks and encouragement to her. This is what I wrote:

Dear L., As I read your story, I am reminded of the many ways that our Lord Jesus Christ was maligned, persecuted, and then killed by the very people He loved and came to save. These people who are persecuting you for your Biblical view on the sanctity of human life, made in the image of God, are not really ONLY persecuting you, but are actually striking out in hate and anger at the very Son of God, who has nothing but love for them. While persecution is oh so difficult to endure, it is one way that we know the Lord's favor is upon us… He is on our side, He is caring for us, He will prepare great and glorious things in Heaven for you and others who persevere in persecution. We applaud your courage, your consistency, your patience, and love in all you are experiencing. Please know that we are praying for you AND for your accusers because they are at this moment at the service of the enemy and in very dangerous territory. May they be brought to true repentance and freedom in Christ. We will be crying out to the Lord for your protection and peace.  

The Bible teaches us that if we live godly in Christ Jesus, sooner or later, we will experience persecution, but we have many promises in the Word of God about the end game of it all.  Matthew 5:11,12 is one of them, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Thank You, dear Lord, for watching over us in any and all persecutions which may come our way because we believe in You.

Mary Fawcett