Standing Firm When Everything is on the Line

In a world where following Jesus sometimes costs everything—our families, our safety, even our lives—it’s easy to wonder how we could ever stand firm in our faith when faced with such extreme opposition. The pressure to compromise, to protect those we love at all costs, can seem overwhelming. But as believers, we are called to follow Christ no matter what the world throws at us. And while it’s a heavy calling, we aren’t left to figure it out alone.

Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. In fact, He made it clear that the path of discipleship isn’t about comfort or avoiding difficulty. It’s about choosing Him above all else, even when that means facing fear, suffering, and loss. He spoke of this cost in many ways, but always with the promise that those who stand firm in faith—no matter the cost—would find something far greater than what they lost.

So how do we stand when everything is on the line? How do we choose Jesus over the many fears and pressures that come our way? What gives us the strength to remain faithful when the world is pulling us in every direction? The answer is found in the very words of Jesus, the one who has gone before us, who understands our suffering, and who promises to never leave us, even in our hardest moments.

Let’s look at what the Scriptures say about standing firm in faith, even when it seems impossible.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells His disciples that they will face hostility and suffering because of Him:
"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:18-19, KJV)

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks about the signs of the end times and the persecution of His followers:
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." (Matthew 24:9-10, KJV)

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, emphasizes that persecution is an expected part of living a godly life. In 2 Timothy, he writes:
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13, KJV)

In Revelation, John shares a vision of the saints who have been martyred for their faith:
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:9-10, KJV)

Jesus also gives a powerful encouragement to those who face persecution for His sake, calling them blessed:
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12, KJV)

In the Book of Acts, we see the apostles enduring imprisonment and suffering for the sake of the Gospel. Peter and John, after being commanded not to speak in Jesus' name, responded boldly:
"We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29, KJV)

The Apostle Paul speaks of his own suffering in his letters, particularly in 2 Corinthians:
"Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep." (2 Corinthians 11:24-25, KJV)

The message of the Bible is clear: followers of Jesus will face persecution. However, they are promised that they will be rewarded in eternity, and their suffering is not in vain. Jesus assures them that He is with them always, even until the end of the world, and that they will have the strength to endure.

As believers today, we are encouraged to hold fast to our faith, knowing that we are part of a long legacy of those who have suffered for the sake of Christ. And, as the Apostle Paul writes,
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18, KJV)

~~~~~~~

Over the past few decades, there have been many Christians around the world who were killed because they followed Jesus. These are people who stood strong in their faith, even when it cost them their lives:

Jim Elliot was a missionary in the 1950s who went to Ecuador to share the Gospel with the Huaorani tribe. Tragically, he and four other missionaries were killed by the tribe members they were trying to reach. Jim’s story became famous because his wife, Elisabeth, later went back to that same tribe to continue sharing the message of Jesus—and many of the people who had once killed Jim became believers themselves. It shows how even in death, Jim's witness brought fruit.

Pastor Wang Yi from China is another recent example. He’s been a bold voice in a country where the government strictly controls religion. In 2018, he was sentenced to nine years in prison just for preaching the Gospel and speaking out against the government’s persecution of Christians. Though he hasn’t been killed, he’s suffered immensely for his faith, and his courage in standing up to the government has been an example to many.

In Sudan, during the civil war, thousands of Christians were killed for their faith. Entire villages were attacked because they followed Christ. These believers were often targeted by both the government and rebel groups, and many lost their lives simply for refusing to renounce their faith.

One of the most heart-wrenching events in recent memory happened in Sri Lanka in 2019. On Easter Sunday, terrorists bombed churches where Christians had gathered to worship, killing over 250 people. It was a horrific attack, but the victims' faith was a powerful witness. They were worshiping Jesus on one of the most important days of the year, and their deaths have become a symbol of sacrifice for the faith.

Shahbaz Bhatti was a Pakistani politician who stood up for the rights of religious minorities, especially Christians, in a country where Christians are often treated as second-class citizens. He was assassinated in 2011 for his bold stance against the country’s harsh blasphemy laws. Shahbaz knew the risks he faced, but he felt called to speak out for his people, even at the cost of his life.

Yousef Nadarkhani, a pastor from Iran, faced death because of his conversion from Islam to Christianity. He was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to death for apostasy, simply for believing in Jesus. Though his sentence was later overturned, the situation remains dire for Christians in Iran, and Yousef’s story continues to inspire people who are facing persecution today.

In Nigeria, Boko Haram has been responsible for countless deaths over the last decade. Many Christians in the northern part of the country have been killed because of their faith. It’s heartbreaking how entire villages have been destroyed, and many Christians have had to flee for their lives. One of the most well-known incidents was when 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped in 2014. Many of those girls were Christians, and their families are still waiting for their return.

The Coptic Christians in Egypt have also suffered in recent years. In 2017, ISIS bombed two churches during Palm Sunday services, killing dozens of Christians. These attacks have become common for the Coptic community, who often face intense persecution just for being believers in a country with a Muslim-majority population.

And then there’s the story of 21 Egyptian Christians who were beheaded by ISIS in Libya in 2015. They were construction workers who were captured by ISIS while working in Libya. When asked to renounce Christ, they refused, and one by one, they were killed. Their deaths were shared in a video that spread worldwide. They are remembered for their bold witness and unshakable faith.

These are just a few of the countless stories of believers who have been killed or severely persecuted for following Jesus. But in all their stories, the common thread is their incredible courage to stand firm in their faith, even in the face of death. Their lives and sacrifices continue to inspire Christians around the world today.

~~~~~~~

When the pressure is on, and it feels like everything—your safety, your family, your whole world—might be ripped away because of your faith, it can seem like a choice between holding on to what’s familiar and choosing Jesus. But let me tell you, there’s no one else worth holding on to more than Him. It’s hard, I know. The thought of your family being threatened or even losing them—it tears at your heart. But Jesus made it clear that following Him might mean making tough choices. He said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). It doesn’t mean we abandon our families. It means that our love for Him has to come first, even above those we cherish the most. When we’re facing the hardest moments, we can remember that if we put Him first, He will never leave us, and we will see our loved ones again if they’re with Him too.

But how do we stand when everything seems stacked against us? First, you have to hold tight to the promise that Jesus is always with you, no matter what. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s happening around you—He’s right there beside you. He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). In those moments when you feel completely alone, you have to remind yourself: He’s with you. You’re not alone. It’s like when Paul was in prison, feeling abandoned, yet he could still say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). The strength you need to stand firm doesn’t come from your own willpower—it comes from Jesus.

Another thing that really hits home in these moments is remembering that what we lose in this life, we gain so much more in the next. Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat things—He told us that following Him would cost us. “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it,” He said, “but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25). It sounds impossible when you’re facing threats, when it feels like everything is crumbling. But it’s the truth. The moment we choose Him, even over our most precious relationships, we’re investing in something that will last forever. No one can take that from you—not even death. It’s hard, but the hope of what’s waiting on the other side of all this suffering gives us the courage to keep going.

And it’s not just about keeping our eyes on the end goal; it’s knowing that every step of the journey is worth it. The Apostle Paul understood that when he said, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). He had lost everything—status, comfort, even his freedom. But in the end, he knew none of that mattered because he had Christ. The reward of knowing Him, of having His presence, that was everything. And that’s what will keep you standing when everything else is falling apart. You may lose everything in this life, but you’ll never lose Jesus.

And when it feels like you can’t take another step, just remember that you’re not the first to walk this road. Hebrews talks about a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1)—the believers who have gone before us, who endured unimaginable pain for the sake of Christ. They made it through, not because they were superhuman, but because they fixed their eyes on Jesus. He’s the one who strengthens us when we can’t keep going. He’s the one who makes it possible to stand when everything else is crumbling. You’re not in this alone. There’s a whole family of believers, past and present, standing with you in spirit, cheering you on.

And you need to remind yourself that, whatever the cost, following Jesus is worth it. There may be times when the decision feels too much, when the stakes seem too high. But remember, He’s the one who promised to never leave you, to always be by your side. He’s the one who says, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). And the truth is, that place is better than anything we could ever imagine. If we stand firm in Him, even in the toughest times, we’ll experience a glory that far outweighs the pain. No loss is permanent. No trial is forever. What we endure now is nothing compared to what’s coming.

When you stand, even when everything else is on the line, you are investing in something that can never be taken away. You might not always understand why things are so hard, but if you hold on, you’ll see—He’s always been there, and He’ll keep you standing, no matter what. Hold on to Him. He is always worth it.

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025

The image is AI generated on chatgpt.