Wars, global unrest, nuclear threats, looming economic disaster, earthquakes, solar storms, political upheavals, out-of-control inflation, famines, weird diseases… on and on it goes.
Who wouldn’t be afraid in today’s world?
Now I know that we should all walk by faith in these Last Days, and we should all know how to answer our fears with scriptures in the Bible. There’s a lot of teaching on this topic, but I want to speak to the human side of this before I tell you how to be strong in the ways of spiritual warfare.
In our humanity, we all need comfort and reassurance that God is not cold or indifferent to us when the Times of Trouble come. I think most of us know that, but it helps to recall that fact as the writer of Hebrews did in Chapter 11, the great ‘faith’ chapter. Go read this chapter again for your own encouragement.
Sometimes, it is good to recall all the times of your life when God has done amazing things for you. Recall the moment you were born again and how the love of God flooded your heart and soul. There is no greater miracle than that! One old-time spiritual song says, “makes me love everybody!” Now there’s a message in that for sure! But, be sure to recall all the other times you have felt God’s presence and remember His tenderness and His loving care.
For me, there are too many special times to count that God has spoken to me or answered a prayer breathed in earnest. But, I remember incomparable times like when He encouraged me when I was in a prison cell with an inspired song. Or, when He told me the prayers of the saints were flooding my cell with love and hope.
Remember, God will never, never, never leave us or forsake us!
World events may cause us to have a healthy fear of what is happening to our world, but we should never forget that all of it means that JESUS IS COMING SOON! When Jesus steps out on that cloud and we see His shining face, all of the troubles of this world will be over, and we will be with Him forever!
But, until then, we are told to “occupy” so we must live with a supernatural knowledge that we are indeed a chosen generation… one that will usher in the coming of Jesus. While this can be a time of great fear, it shouldn’t be for those who are working, watching, and waiting for His return.
There is a healthy fear and an unhealthy fear. A healthy fear reads the whole Bible, including the Revelation, and heeds its warnings. A healthy fear helps you to know that God’s Word is true, all of it, and we will have some Times of Trouble in the Last Days. And make no mistake, we are in the Last Days.
A healthy fear prepares both the spirit and the body to meet each and every situation we are faced with – with the maximum amount of faith. I am reminded of the three Hebrew children: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We can recall how they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s demands to worship him, and were thrown into the fiery furnace as a result.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story is an example of great faith because they told Nebuchadnezzar that their God was not only able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but that He would deliver them!
How many of us have enough faith to say “God, I know you can deliver us out of our troubles and I know that you will!”
In the natural, we are all afraid to some extent. But in the supernatural, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to give us strength and courage.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7, KJV)
With everything that’s happening in our world right now, it sometimes challenges our level of courage to live through it all without fear. But, that is exactly what Jesus said that we should do. In fact, He says it very clearly right in the middle of the scriptures that tell of these frightful events.
“When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened.” (Luke 21:9)
And just a few verses later, He repeats the admonition to be careful not to fear.
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” (Luke 21:34)
Many say they are just not that strong – and they wonder how they can have faith in the face of fearful events. The answer is humility and a heart that reaches out to God in spite of a weakness.
Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Have you ever heard the scripture “Lord, I believe. Help me now my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) Perhaps we should understand this as “Lord, I have faith. Help me now with my fear.” A humble heart is something the Lord will not refuse. (Psalm 51:17)
“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. Selah” (Ps 46:1-3)
No matter what catastrophes may come on the earth in Times of Trouble, we should not fear!
Why is fear so hazardous to our spiritual life, especially in the Last Days? Why does the Lord caution us about fear? Fear is not just a distressing emotion; it is the spiritual force of Satan’s kingdom. Faith is the force of God’s kingdom. We are saved by faith, we are healed by faith, and we move mountains by faith. Fear is the opposite of faith. “And whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). It’s impossible to please God without faith. So, fear is a sin.
According to Revelation 21:8, the fearful will be cast into the lake of fire! Fear is that serious! Fear is called a spirit, and the Spirit of God within us should overcome the spirit of fear.
Whenever you notice fear in your life, you can overcome it by answering it with the Word of God.
Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
So in the Times of Trouble ahead of us, do what you can to be ready. Do all that you know to prepare for any calamity. Then, cast the rest of your care upon the Lord and watch how he delivers His own people.
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Love,