Dear Persecuted Christian,

How are you?

Your struggle in faith must be difficult. Maybe unimaginable, even.

Thank God that you are here. Thank God for all the moments that you have remembered Him and turned to Him.

God remembers you too. He knows that you suffer for His kingdom.

Some days it might feel like the persecution never ends. Maybe you wonder, When will God act? When will things change?

Don’t give up. These times are temporary. 2 Thessalonians encourages us: When Jesus comes again, those who persecute you and disobey the gospel will be punished. You who are faithful, God will reward. Not only will you enjoy heavenly rest for eternity, Jesus will take righteous vengeance for you. The Almighty King of Kings personally stepping in for you… imagine that! (2 Thess 1:6-8)

Our brothers and sisters in the Thessalonian church suffered too. They show us that your suffering has more to it. Even in difficult times, our faith can abound, just as the Thessalonians’ did. Though people are against you, hating you… these persecuted Christians have shown us that with God, our love can still grow (2 Thess 1:3).

Just as we are encouraged by the faith of these believers (2 Thess 1:4), your active decisions to remain in God, despite everything you face, encourages God’s other children too.

Your persecutors may be baffled… Your steadfast faith preaches to them: You may try to knock me down. But this is God’s power in me. This is God’s peace.

With God, it is possible. Even in the darkest moments of our lives, we love because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:19). We suffer for a God who was persecuted too. He understands and He overcame it. Go to Him.

When you lose peace with yourself in your suffering, remember: You are counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41). You stand in the company of the heroes of faith who were persecuted, people of whom the world was not worthy (Heb 11:38). Your story connects you back to the heart of Jesus, the Saviour who was wounded for our sins (Isa 53:5).

I pray that God gives you and me the strength to live out our faith fully, so that Jesus is always honoured in our life, no matter how we suffer for Him.

God will give us the power to keep choosing our faith. May He always find us worthy of this calling, with our lives glorifying Him (2 Thess 1:11-12).

Stay true to God, always.

In God’s Love,
A Fellow Believer