Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a country where you weren’t free - free to drive to see family members, free to speak your mind, free to worship in the way that you want? It’s hard for me to imagine what it would be like to not have a copy of God’s Word, to not be able to call a friend and talk about how I’m struggling in my relationship with God or to freely write what is on my heart.
As I see what is happening all around the world – the unrest in so many countries, the earthquakes and tsunamis and possible nuclear meltdowns, I have to admit my heart trembles and I wonder if my world will drastically change. Will I someday experience what many Christians in other countries around the world experience? Will someday being persecuted for my faith mean more than just losing my job or being criticized for believing in God but going to jail or having my family stripped away from me?
And then I wonder. . . will I be as resilient in my faith as I am now? Will I be able to stand strong in the face of danger? If I let my thoughts run in that direction I can allow fear to completely consume me.
Look at what 2 Timothy 1:7-8 says: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. . .With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and a self-discipline. . . When we give into fear and allow it to consume us we are giving power to the enemy but God has given us everything we need to stand strong and to face whatever comes our way! But how do we do this in the face of overwhelming circumstances and fear? By turning our hearts back to Him.
When I experience fear, heartache or worry in my life He wants me to give it to Him and to claim His power and love. Just as a pedestrian on a swinging rope bridge keeps their eyes fixed on the other side and won’t allow themselves to look down to the gorge below, we have to fix our eyes on our Savior, the author and finisher of our faith.
If God’s Word is true and I believe it is than He will give me what I need when the time arises. I don’t have to live in fear or worry of what tomorrow will bring because He promises to be with me, to give me His Strength and His Power to meet whatever will come my way.
We have nothing to fear . . . if God is for us, who can be against us?
Great post Krisi! I've been thinking about this a lot lately too. I'm reading the last book in the Mark of the Lion trilogy and it talks about this a lot and it's hard not to think about it in our own lives.
ReplyDeleteI love the Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers!
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