خَذَلَ means to abandon or withhold support; خَالَفَ means to oppose. The point is that rejection and opposition do not erase fidelity to the truth. The wording should not be stretched into a promise that believers cannot experience physical or financial harm.
A person may keep honesty and worship intact while facing disagreement. Popularity and unpopularity alone do not prove religious correctness; fidelity to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and upright conduct matters.
Example: Refusing dishonest practices at work despite social pressure illustrates steadfastness.