1 Peter 3:13-14 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
If we persevere in doing right, we will overcome the persecution that is promised. We are to conduct ourselves in such a way that it brings conviction to those who practice darkness. Ephesians 5:11,13, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them…. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” Our good behavior will result, first, in persecution because of the contrast in direction and second, in conviction of the hearts surrounding us because they will be affected by their consciences and will hate the light fearing their exposure (John 3:20).
However, this should not deter us from our goal because if we will persevere, we will overcome and their hearts will be changed because of the mighty works of God done through us. God told us that He would be our protector, our shield, and our provider. “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!... Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; preserve my life from fear of the enemy... Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name... The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul... As for God, His way is perfect. The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him... You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great... Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield... Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help... Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name's sake!... The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence... Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' for after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
With these things in mind, we can have confidence that God will provide all that is needed for our walk in this maturing process of sobriety. This includes our obedience and our change of heart and will.