After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace…will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:10

In July 64 A.D., a fire engulfed the city of Rome in flames, burning out of control. Emperor Nero was a persecutor of Christians. He and many Roman citizens who were hostile toward believers blamed them for starting the fire. That unleashed a rash of persecution against Christ-followers that spread to other parts of the Roman Empire. History records that many who professed Christ as Savior were set ablaze while they were still alive. There was more to endure. In the midst of this “cancel culture,” Peter wrote his first and second epistles.

In many parts of the world, Christians still experience various types of persecution today. Whether it occurs in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or even your own backyard, the world continues to resist, or outright attacks, followers of Jesus. This should come as no surprise, given the circumstances that the apostles and Christ Jesus Himself experienced in sharing and standing for the truth of the Good News. None of these events, nor the ones that are still to come, are any surprise to the Lord. Now is the time to grasp hold of and adhere to God’s perspective. Jesus said there would be trials and tribulations; eschatology outlines times of great trouble and turmoil. While you do not know what tomorrow holds, you do know Who holds tomorrow.

In the meantime, God instructs you to be patient, prayerful, positive, productive, proactive, and prepared. Know that His grace is sufficient to sustain you, and He longs to pour out that grace on others. Pray that the hearts of men and women in government will be drawn toward the Lord and His Word, and that they accept salvation through the Messiah.