Yes—God supports Christians in persecution by comforting, encouraging, and strengthening them, and by providing sufficient grace and a way of escape.
Les Feldick teaches that God does not remove believers from trials but escorts them through, never forsaking them. God limits every test to what a believer can bear and always provides a way of escape. He also guarantees that persecution cannot separate believers from His love in Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:4 — This verse directly states that God comforts believers in all their tribulation, which is the heart of how He supports them.
1 Corinthians 10:13 — God promises not to allow testing beyond the believer's ability and to always provide a way of escape.
Scripture describes God as 'the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort,' who 'comforteth us in all our tribulation' (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). This comfort not only sustains the believer but equips them to comfort others in trouble. God also gives a promise about trials: 'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it' (1 Corinthians 10:13). Romans 8 poses the question, 'If God be for us, who can be against us?' and then declares that neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31, 38–39). Hebrews 11 recounts believers who were 'tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection' and others who endured 'cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment' (Hebrews 11:35–36).
Les Feldick makes clear that becoming a believer does not promise a 'rose-petaled pathway' or a Garden of Eden life. Believers are still in this old world and will face trials and tribulations, but God says, 'I'll see you through it,' and will never forsake them (Clip 2). He teaches that God brings times of testing to prove a believer's mettle; a true believing heart finds God more precious when hard times come (Clip 1). Les points to the apostle Paul, the greatest servant, who suffered greatly for the Gospel, and yet wrote 'If God be for us, who can be against us?' (Clip 3). When real persecution comes, the grace of God is sufficient, as attested by martyrs who endured without despair (Clip 5). God is faithful to limit every testing and provide a way of escape (Clip 6). Furthermore, persecution can never force a believer out of their place in the body of Christ because their security rests entirely on the work of the cross (Clip 4).
No. Les Feldick emphasizes that believers do not get a 'rose-petaled pathway' and are not living in a Garden of Eden. They remain in this old world, in a body of flesh, living in a time of trials and tribulations. God does not remove believers from that; instead He says, 'I'll see you through it,' and promises to escort them and never forsake them.
Les recalls telling a pastor, 'What if real persecution should come? Can I take it?' The pastor replied, 'Don't worry about it. Today you can't. But when the time comes, the grace of God will be sufficient.' Les points to millions of Christians who suffered martyrdom without screaming or carrying on because the grace of God overwhelmed them. Some even prayed for their persecutors as the fire rose around them.
Scripture promises that God will not permit believers to be tested above what they are able, but with the testing He will provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Les illustrates this with the Greek picture of an army entrapped in a canyon, where the commander finds another canyon off to the side so the army can escape. God always makes a way for believers to bear the testing.
Romans 8 asks, 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution...?' Les teaches that the devil can never bring enough persecution to force a believer out of their place in the body of Christ. Believers are secure because of the work of the cross, not because of anything they have done or merited.
The God of All Comfort
Les reads 2 Corinthians 1:4, showing that God 'comforteth us' — the God of all comfort encourages believers in all their tribulation.
Testing Proves the Believer's Mettle
Les uses the example of a paralyzed young lady and explains that God brings times of testing to prove the believer's mettle; a true believing heart finds God more precious when hard times come.
God Will See You Through
Les teaches that believers do not get a 'rose-petaled pathway'; instead, God says 'I'll see you through it,' escorting believers through valleys and never forsaking them.
Paul's Sufferings and God's Presence
Les points to the suffering of the apostle Paul to show that 'If God be for us, who against us?' does not mean believers escape hardship; even the greatest servant of God faced severe persecution.
Security in Persecution
Les teaches that tribulation, distress, or persecution cannot force a believer out of their place in the body of Christ; security is guaranteed by the work of the cross, not by human merit.
Sufficient Grace in Persecution
Les explains that when real persecution comes, the grace of God will be sufficient, as it was for martyrs who endured burning at the stake with prayer and peace.
A Way of Escape
Les teaches from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God is faithful and will not permit testing above what a believer can bear; with the testing He provides a way of escape, like an army finding a hidden canyon.
God Is for Us Regardless of Persecution
Les cautions that even in America persecution may come, but believers can rest that regardless of what comes, God is for us; he reads Hebrews 11 of believers who endured torture and imprisonment.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
This verse directly names God as the source of all comfort and describes His support in tribulation.
1 Corinthians 10:13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
This verse promises that God limits testing and provides a way of escape.
Romans 8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
This verse is the foundation for believers' confidence that God's presence outweighs any persecution.
Romans 8:38-39: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This verse assures that no persecution can separate believers from God's love.
Hebrews 11:35-36: Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.
This passage shows believers enduring severe persecution without accepting deliverance, relying on God's support.
No. Les Feldick says believers do not have a 'rose-petaled pathway' and are still in a world of trials and tribulations. God does not remove them from trials, but He says, 'I'll see you through it,' and never forsakes them.
God gives sufficient grace for the moment of persecution, as seen in martyrs who endured without despair. He also is faithful to limit testing and provide a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
No. Romans 8:38-39 declares that neither tribulation, persecution, nor any other creature can separate believers from the love of God in Christ. Les teaches that believers are secure because of the work of the cross, not their own merit.
Les teaches that God brings times of testing to prove the believer's mettle. Hard times cause true believing hearts to find God more precious rather than becoming bitter or rebellious.
Watch the Teaching: Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen? — 2 Corinthians 1 Explained