THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Persecuted But Not Forsaken.
By Tracey Ridenour January 6th, 2026
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
As Betty sat there talking with her teenage daughter Karen, there was a knock at the door, and sudden fear shot through her. She knew this day was coming but did it have to be today? As she walked to the door, she sent up a prayer to Heaven for strength to endure what was about to happen.
She opened the door, and it was her son saying that they wanted to meet with her at the house next door. But right then, that peace that passes all understanding flooded her whole body. Betty knew that God would be with her no matter what happened.
As she started to leave, Karen asked if she could come along, and with a deep sigh, Betty said yes. It seemed like such a long walk, but in reality, it was only a short distance away. As they arrived, Betty sent up another prayer to God for strength.
She knocked, and Carol’s sister opened the door. She told Betty to sit down and wait for Carol to arrive. The minutes ticked by; the tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Then, suddenly, the door swung open with such force that it hit the wall, and Carol flew straight for Betty in a rage. Why all the anger? Because Betty had refused to go along with Carol on something, choosing a godly path instead.
Betty sat quietly, except for her whispered prayers, and peace flooded her soul again. Carol’s shouting became louder, and her accusations kept building. Then, with her pointing finger almost touching Betty’s face, she screamed, “I’m so angry at you right now, I want to kill you!”
Betty glanced toward her daughter—sitting on the floor and watching the whole thing. Then a thought flashed through her mind: This is just a taste of what it was like for Jesus when He was falsely accused of things He’d never done!
Visions ran through her mind of what Christ must have endured as He was slapped, spat upon, and beaten almost to death. As she pondered these things, the angry words faded away, and she suddenly wondered what it would be like at the end of time—just before Jesus comes to take us home to Heaven. John 15:20 came to mind, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
As she sat there patiently listening to each accusation, Betty realized that Carol wasn’t screaming at her; instead, she was persecuting Jesus Christ and the principles He taught us to live by. Her fearful, trembling heart became full again as she realized she was not sitting there alone. She knew that Christ was her protection and that nothing could happen to her unless Christ allowed it.
When I find myself in situations I don’t like, I try to remember that while I may not understand why God is allowing it to happen, it’s not happening in vain. There’s always a lesson to be learned, and each difficult situation is a chance to draw even closer to Christ. May we all learn to trust and depend on Him—no matter the cost!
“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7.
Persecuted But Not Forsaken.
By Tracey Ridenour January 6th, 2026
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
As Betty sat there talking with her teenage daughter Karen, there was a knock at the door, and sudden fear shot through her. She knew this day was coming but did it have to be today? As she walked to the door, she sent up a prayer to Heaven for strength to endure what was about to happen.
She opened the door, and it was her son saying that they wanted to meet with her at the house next door. But right then, that peace that passes all understanding flooded her whole body. Betty knew that God would be with her no matter what happened.
As she started to leave, Karen asked if she could come along, and with a deep sigh, Betty said yes. It seemed like such a long walk, but in reality, it was only a short distance away. As they arrived, Betty sent up another prayer to God for strength.
She knocked, and Carol’s sister opened the door. She told Betty to sit down and wait for Carol to arrive. The minutes ticked by; the tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Then, suddenly, the door swung open with such force that it hit the wall, and Carol flew straight for Betty in a rage. Why all the anger? Because Betty had refused to go along with Carol on something, choosing a godly path instead.
Betty sat quietly, except for her whispered prayers, and peace flooded her soul again. Carol’s shouting became louder, and her accusations kept building. Then, with her pointing finger almost touching Betty’s face, she screamed, “I’m so angry at you right now, I want to kill you!”
Betty glanced toward her daughter—sitting on the floor and watching the whole thing. Then a thought flashed through her mind: This is just a taste of what it was like for Jesus when He was falsely accused of things He’d never done!
Visions ran through her mind of what Christ must have endured as He was slapped, spat upon, and beaten almost to death. As she pondered these things, the angry words faded away, and she suddenly wondered what it would be like at the end of time—just before Jesus comes to take us home to Heaven. John 15:20 came to mind, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
As she sat there patiently listening to each accusation, Betty realized that Carol wasn’t screaming at her; instead, she was persecuting Jesus Christ and the principles He taught us to live by. Her fearful, trembling heart became full again as she realized she was not sitting there alone. She knew that Christ was her protection and that nothing could happen to her unless Christ allowed it.
When I find myself in situations I don’t like, I try to remember that while I may not understand why God is allowing it to happen, it’s not happening in vain. There’s always a lesson to be learned, and each difficult situation is a chance to draw even closer to Christ. May we all learn to trust and depend on Him—no matter the cost!
“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7.
THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK DEVOTIONAL
Persecuted But Not Forsaken.
By Tracey Ridenour January 6th, 2026
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12
As Betty sat there talking with her teenage daughter Karen, there was a knock at the door, and sudden fear shot through her. She knew this day was coming but did it have to be today? As she walked to the door, she sent up a prayer to Heaven for strength to endure what was about to happen.
She opened the door, and it was her son saying that they wanted to meet with her at the house next door. But right then, that peace that passes all understanding flooded her whole body. Betty knew that God would be with her no matter what happened.
As she started to leave, Karen asked if she could come along, and with a deep sigh, Betty said yes. It seemed like such a long walk, but in reality, it was only a short distance away. As they arrived, Betty sent up another prayer to God for strength.
She knocked, and Carol’s sister opened the door. She told Betty to sit down and wait for Carol to arrive. The minutes ticked by; the tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Then, suddenly, the door swung open with such force that it hit the wall, and Carol flew straight for Betty in a rage. Why all the anger? Because Betty had refused to go along with Carol on something, choosing a godly path instead.
Betty sat quietly, except for her whispered prayers, and peace flooded her soul again. Carol’s shouting became louder, and her accusations kept building. Then, with her pointing finger almost touching Betty’s face, she screamed, “I’m so angry at you right now, I want to kill you!”
Betty glanced toward her daughter—sitting on the floor and watching the whole thing. Then a thought flashed through her mind: This is just a taste of what it was like for Jesus when He was falsely accused of things He’d never done!
Visions ran through her mind of what Christ must have endured as He was slapped, spat upon, and beaten almost to death. As she pondered these things, the angry words faded away, and she suddenly wondered what it would be like at the end of time—just before Jesus comes to take us home to Heaven. John 15:20 came to mind, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
As she sat there patiently listening to each accusation, Betty realized that Carol wasn’t screaming at her; instead, she was persecuting Jesus Christ and the principles He taught us to live by. Her fearful, trembling heart became full again as she realized she was not sitting there alone. She knew that Christ was her protection and that nothing could happen to her unless Christ allowed it.
When I find myself in situations I don’t like, I try to remember that while I may not understand why God is allowing it to happen, it’s not happening in vain. There’s always a lesson to be learned, and each difficult situation is a chance to draw even closer to Christ. May we all learn to trust and depend on Him—no matter the cost!
“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7.
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