How to Respond to Persecution as a Christian: Hope from Psalm 35

How do you respond to persecution as a Christian? What do you do when opposition isn’t just cultural, but personal? When you’re pressured at work to affirm values you don’t hold, mocked at school for following Jesus, or when your church is vandalized for standing on biblical truth? These are real forms of Christian persecution—and they raise an urgent question for believers today.

Psalm 35 offers a better path than bitterness or revenge. It reminds us that God is our deliverer—and when we cry out to Him, we can trust that He sees, He hears, and He will act.

Don’t Be Surprised by Opposition for Your Faith

David begins Psalm 35 with deep pain: “Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes…who hate me without cause.” (Psalm 35:19)

We don’t know the exact situation David had in mind, but the attacks are clear: false accusations, unjust hatred, public shaming, malicious plots. David isn’t dealing with vague difficulty—he’s got enemies who want to see him fall.

Sound familiar? Jesus quoted this verse in John 15:25, saying of the world, “They hated me without a cause.” And then he warned his followers the same would happen to us. Christian, if you’re faithful to God, the world may oppose you—not because of you, but because of the One you represent. Sometimes that looks like brutal persecution around the world. Sometimes it’s a snide remark, a lost opportunity, or an isolating silence.

When You’re Persecuted, Cry Out—Don’t Clap Back

In verse 22, David shifts from describing the attacks to crying out to God: “You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!” (Psalm 35:22)

David doesn’t gossip, retaliate, or sink into despair. He pleads for God’s justice. He calls out for vindication—that God would show who is truly in the right. “Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness…” (Psalm 35:24)

That word vindicate means to decide, to arbitrate, to judge rightly. David doesn’t take justice into his own hands—he places it squarely into God’s. And here’s the thing: sometimes that justice is delayed. Sometimes, like David, we wait. But in that waiting, God is forming us.

Let God Shape You Through the Fire of Persecution

Psalm 35 shows us that the path to trust is forged through trial. As believers, we don’t seek hardship—but when it comes, we know it’s not wasted.

Just think of Joni Eareckson Tada. At 17 years old, a diving accident left her paralyzed from the neck down. Through unimaginable suffering, she found deep joy and unshakable hope in Christ. Her life became a testimony to God’s power to refine and redeem even the darkest seasons.

“Sometimes God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves.” – Joni Eareckson Tada

That’s exactly what we see happening in Psalm 35. David models what it looks like to be built in the battle: he doesn’t curse his enemies or lose hope. He turns to God, trusting that even when deliverance feels far off, his faith can grow deeper.

The Gospel Empowers the Christian Response to Injustice

Here’s the deeper truth: you can’t pray for vindication unless you’ve been vindicated. David’s prayer only makes sense in the context of covenant relationship. And for us, that covenant is found in Christ.

Without Jesus, we’re not the plaintiff—we’re the accused. We’re not the victim—we’re the rebel. But Jesus, the One who was truly hated without cause, took our place. As we explored last week in Psalm 33, the star-breather became the sin-bearer.

The innocent was treated as guilty—so the guilty could be treated as righteous. Because of the cross, we can now cry out to God not in self-righteousness, but in gospel humility. Yes, we pray for justice—but never with hate. We call for evil to be exposed—and for hearts to be saved.

Pursue Both Justice and Salvation in the Face of Persecution

Take this example: in 2015, 21 Coptic Christians were beheaded on a beach in Libya for their faith. Their killers published the video as propaganda, titled “A Message Signed in Blood to the Nation of the Cross.” Our prayer? God, bring justice. Hold these men accountable. But also—save one. Turn a Saul into a Paul. That’s gospel-shaped justice.

Psalm 35 allows us to pray for both justice and salvation. It forms us into people who trust God to make things right—and who remember that we were once his enemies too.

Trust God to Deliver You from Your Enemies

The psalm ends not with vengeance, but with praise: “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of His servant!” (Psalm 35:27)

That’s the key. God delights in delivering His people. Whether you experience that deliverance in this life or the next, the victory is already secure. Because Jesus rose from the dead, the final enemy—death—has already been swallowed up in triumph (1 Corinthians 15:54). So cry out. Forgive. Release bitterness. And praise.

Let Psalm 35 Shape How You Respond to Persecution

Here are a few questions to help apply the message:

• What situation are you walking through right now where you feel attacked or mistreated for your faith?
• Have you been tempted to take matters into your own hands—through gossip, bitterness, or anger?
• Can you, like David, call out for justice without hate—because you know the gospel has changed your position before God?
• What would it look like to pray for both vindication and salvation in your current trial?

More Bible Verses About Responding to Persecution

As Psalm 35 shows, the Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of persecution—in fact, it prepares us for it. As believers, we’re called not just to endure hardship, but to respond to persecution in a way that reflects Christ. Here are some additional Bible verses that guide how to respond when your faith is under fire:

1. Matthew 5:10–12 (Jesus in the Beatitudes)

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…”

Jesus reminds us that persecution is not a sign of failure, but of faithfulness. When we suffer for righteousness, we share in the legacy of the prophets and find joy in our eternal reward.

2. Romans 12:17–21

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil… If your enemy is hungry, feed him… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Paul echoes Psalm 35’s message—justice belongs to God. Our role is not retaliation, but radical kindness that displays the power of the gospel.

3. 1 Peter 4:12–16

“Do not be surprised at the fiery trial… If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed…”

Peter calls Christians to expect persecution, not fear it. Suffering for Christ’s name is not a mark of shame, but of honor.

4. Luke 6:27–28

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

Jesus raises the bar with a call to love those who hurt us—not just endure them. This is gospel-shaped living: loving like we’ve been loved.

5. 2 Timothy 3:12

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Persecution isn’t an exception—it’s a promise. But so is God’s presence in the midst of it.

Final Word

Psalm 35 helps us cry out instead of clap back. It gives us a better way—a gospel way—to deal with persecution. So, whether you’re in a difficult situation right now or preparing for when one comes, anchor yourself in the truth: God sees. God hears. And God will deliver.

Watch the full sermon from week two of our “A Selection of Psalms” sermon series: