Find Peace During a Crisis - FINDING PEACE WHILE PERSECUTED

 Persecution can rob us of many things that normally bring peace. We are happy and satisfied when we meet together  freely, preach openly, and carry on in our daily routine without fear of being arrested.  If those freedoms are taken away, we may become anxious, fearing what will happen next. These feelings are normal. Still, we must be careful.  Jesus indicated that persecution could his followers to stumble.  (John 16:1, 2) So how can we maintain our peace while being persecuted?

God's Word tells us: "All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12) A brother named Andrei struggled to accept that fact after the work was banned in his country.  He reasoned: 'There are too many Witnesses here.  How could the authorities arrest all of us?  But instead of bring Andrei peace, this thinking made him constantly anxious. Other brothers left the outcome in Jehovah's hands, not trying to convince themselves that they would escape arrest.   They acknowledged that they might be arrested, but they were less anxious than Andrei was. So he decided to adopt their attitude and entrust himself to God.  Soon he felt at peace, and now he finds joy despite challenges. The same can be true of us. While Jesus did tell us to expect persecution, he also assured us that we can remain faithful. - Read JOHN 15:20; 16:33. 

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