Scriptures to help when you feel attacked or persecuted…
Previously, I shared how to respond when people offend you. I discussed incidents of feeling a tad bit persecuted, and how I’ve decided to react when it happens. On many occasions, I’ve had to fight the urge to fight back! Even though we know the right way to respond (or NOT respond), it’s still hard sometimes to deal with the attacks. In light of that, in this post I’ve put together a list of scriptures that can be helpful and encouraging when you feel you are being attacked or persecuted. It’s helpful to know that we’re not alone and that God has given us some encouragement and direction on this topic.
Persecution is common for Christians
Persecution is a term we can relate to being treated differently in a negative context. To persecute is to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment; to harass persistently; or to annoy or trouble persistently. The Bible is chock-full of stories where Christians were persecuted. In the Old Testament, Noah was criticized and thought of as crazy for building an ark, the Hebrews were oppressed and made slaves in Egypt before their exodus with Moses, Joseph was harassed by his brothers, and there are countless other stories in the Old Testament. Throughout much of the New Testament, Christians everywhere were persecuted, even (and especially) Jesus Christ, Himself.
Present-day Christians encounter persecution of all kinds…even death. It’s both humbling and easier to bear being picked on, attacked, insulted, and persecuted when we know that across the world there are others suffering much, much worse.
Why do you think Christians are persecuted—what’s the cause?
It’s often hard not to ask the question “why me?” when we are being treated differently, being persecuted, or just being left out, but the Bible reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that trials (persecution included) are common to man—meaning that they happen to us all. 1 Peter 4:12-29 also tells us not to be surprised when trials come against us as if it’s strange, like it shouldn’t be happening. There are times when we will share in some of Christ’s sufferings. However, Romans 8:18 reminds us that even though we might experience suffering in the present, it will not even compare to the glory that will be revealed to us later. If we are ever persecuted for being a Christian or living right, God will make it right someday—He’s got our backs. God is our avenger. We just have to remember that things aren’t always peachy just because we are Christians.
The devil considers us a threat!
As I briefly mentioned in a previous post, we might even consider it a compliment that the devil thinks of us as enough of a threat that he has to mess with us! That must mean we’re doing something right! The devil comes against us (or uses other people or circumstances to come against us) because we look like God (Genesis 5:1 says man is made in God’s own image). The devil can’t get to God so he comes after us. A good thing to remember is this—that if you’re not pleasing God, you’re pleasing the devil; and if you’re pleasing the devil, you’re not pleasing God. We should seek to please God by being the people He calls us to be—by being different from the world. It is better to be a God-pleaser than a people-pleaser, world-pleaser, or devil-pleaser!!
A very sweet reader sent me an encouraging e-mail once saying, “Praise God for people like you who stand up to Satan’s “temper tantrum”.” I loved that! I hope these verses will be an encouragement to you too to stand up to Satan’s temper tantrums!
