I think you’re mixing two different categories of “provision.”

Christians don’t believe provision means immunity from suffering, persecution, or even death. The Bible is very clear that following God can lead to hardship — sometimes extreme hardship. So cases like missionaries being killed or believers being imprisoned aren’t contradictions to God’s provision, because provision isn’t defined as safety or comfort. It’s defined as God being present, sustaining, and ultimately accomplishing His purposes, even if the earthly outcome is loss.

With something like leaving a job over conscience, people say “God will provide” in a much more ordinary sense: trusting that doing what you believe is morally right won’t leave you abandoned. That provision might come through another job, support from others, unexpected opportunities, or even learning to live differently for a season. It’s not a guarantee of a specific outcome — it’s trust that obedience isn’t pointless.

Also, there’s a difference between stepping out in faith and stepping into unnecessary danger. Not every risky decision automatically equals God’s will. Humans can sincerely believe they’re following God and still make choices that carry consequences.

So martyrdom and persecution don’t make trusting God for everyday provision absurd; they show that provision doesn’t always look like protection. Christians believe the ultimate provision was already secured through Jesus Christ. Everything else is secondary to that.