We’re living in some pretty crazy times, aren’t we? Each day brings new stress and fresh anxiety. We awake and ask “what chaos awaits the world today?” It wasn’t always like this and it doesn’t have to be this way now.
For many people throughout time, the feeling that they’re not quite safe or secure in this world is fairly common and this holds true for Christians as well. For Christians, we love and trust Jesus, but the chaotic and often violent world in which we live, always rears its ugly head and creates a feeling of uncertainty. We feel fearful and ask ourselves if we’re being good enough, if we’re pleasing God and if we have enough faith to sustain us. These questions are all to common, not to mention very stressful, because they mean that we are living in a state of fear and anxiety, if only on a slight scale. In truth, we are meant to take refuge in God to protect us from the harshness of this world — we are not meant to live in constant doubt and anxiety and this is why we will find peace and serenity when we let go and let God be our protector.
I think most of us realize that instead of us enjoying and thriving in our relationship with God, we’re too preoccupied with questioning that relationship, which causes us to live in doubt. Rather than embracing the shelter that we have in God, we’re stepping outside of His protection and punishing ourselves in the wilderness of this world — and its in that world that we have worries, self-doubt and anxiety — its precisely there that we leave ourselves open to the onslaught of the chaos and violence.
We have to ask, “why do we do this?” I believe part of the reason we do, is because we’re making the faith about ourself and not about God. We’re centering it on us, rather than on the Father and Jesus. We say we have faith, but then we keep putting everything on ourselves. We have to remember that God does not lie and we should never forget the fact that Jesus died for our sins — He paid the price and thus, cleansed us. Knowing this truth, why do we keep going out into the wilderness and let fear and doubt creep in? God has told us not to fear — not to be scared of any man, or even of this entire world.
In John 10:28, Jesus said “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” Jesus wasn’t saying “kind of eternal life…” He wasn’t saying “only until they mess up….” Jesus tells us exactly what we need to do to have eternal life, so if we listen and follow, why have fear of this world?
Psalm 62:8: “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
Isaiah 25:4: “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.”
Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
We are promised that the life we can have is eternal, not temporary. Jesus made that promise to us and it is through Him that salvation is given. When Jesus said on the Cross “it is finished,” He was assuring us that it has been accomplished and that He paid the debt for our sins. We are safe in His grace and His forgiveness. Through Christ, we can have eternal life and God will grant us this blessing. This is just one of the many reasons why we should never be afraid or stressed with this world, because God told us:
In Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 46:1-3 tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Psalm 118:6 promises us: “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
And in Deuteronomy 31:6, we are told: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Fear and anxiety are expected in our chaotic world, but they don’t have to be accepted. The feeling of fear does not have to overwhelm us. God has shown us the way and Jesus accomplished our salvation. No one and nothing is more powerful than God, so this world cannot harm our eternal souls.
Whenever we feel scared or anxious, we should look to God the Father and Jesus. One thing we can do is to memorize one or two Bible passages that remind us that God loves us all and that He protects us. When we feel afraid or anxious, these passages can help mitigate the feelings of stress and fear that may start to creep in. One such passage is Ephesians 1:13:
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…”
We are His. We are safe. We are loved. Live a life that is full and thriving, because that is what God wants for us all. The chaos of this world is temporary and the promise of eternal life is forever. No matter how stressful this world seems, God never leaves us and we are never alone. Today, I pray that we all take up joy and peace and that we live in harmony with all mankind.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
