Scripture is very clear:

“..all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  2 Timothy 3:12

It is carnal man whose worldly ways have led to misunderstandings, and to cloudy, unclear and inconclusive expectations of the Christian life.

Abraham was told to leave his country, not knowing where he was going. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were persecuted because they refused to worship the image of the king. Hosea was told by God to marry a prostitute and have children. Paul was beaten, stoned, imprisoned and finally killed. Of the twelve apostles, all were martyred for their faith in and devotion to the LORD Jesus.

Glenn Penner writes:

“I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:12 that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Paul did not see the suffering he endured as exceptional, but rather typical for anyone who wants to live a godly life. So I’m forced to ask myself, is there a reason why we have it so easy?
 
Will persecution make us better Christians? Perhaps. It seems however that the witness of scripture and the testimony of today’s persecuted Church is better reflected in the phrase…

Better Christians tend to produce persecution.”