Anytime you stand up for what you believe, you will experience opposition — you can count on it! As Paul told his young disciple, Timothy, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
Earlier in 2 Timothy, Paul wrote, “You… must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life” (2:3-4). You are called to live boldly by different standards — God’s standards.
Yes, it will be difficult. But such hardship is nothing compared to what you’ll gain — God’s blessing for your obedience and a clear conscience for doing what is right.
God, when opposition comes my way, give me strength to bear it with grace and maintain a clear conscience. Amen.