We think you ought to
know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through
in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to
endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to
die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only
on God, who raises the dead. And
he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have
placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 2
Corinthians 1:8-10
Lately, I feel like my mind is in a maze from which there is
no escape. There are worries about
family and work. Then there has been the
massive uproar on spiritual topics ranging from same sex marriages to The Ten
Commandments being removed from a courthouse.
All of this comes in the aftermath of a church shooting, and many have said
that with all of this happening the end of days is near. It has left my mind and soul tired and
fatigued. However as I was feeling those
things, I was reminded of the words of Isaiah 40:30-31, which says, “Even
youths grow tired and wear, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope
in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” And as
I read those words, my strength and resolve to move forward grew, and the
wisdom to find a way through the maze returned.
In times of struggle and turmoil, we must always have full
confidence in the Lord because He is without fail. There are numerous quotes of scripture that
we should remember when overcome with fear and anxiety of the happenings in the
world. We need to focus on
confidence. Confidence not in what we
see, but rather confidence in what we know.
We know that God is control. Jesus
said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and
sorrows. But take heart, because I have
overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend
on your own understanding.” Finally, the
Psalms of David remind us that “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my
savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and
my place of safety.” (Psalm 18:2)
God is in always in control.
While much of what happens in the world may bring us grief and
disappointment, we must continue to have surety in God to do all things. So as many will worry about the laws of the
land changing, we must remember the words of Jeremiah 31:33b, which says, “I
will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their
hearts. I will be their God, and they
will be my people.” Let the laws of the
Lord we live by be forever in our hearts.
How confident are you in God’s righteousness? What can you do to gain assurance in God’s all-knowing
authority? My prayer is that we, like
Paul, have full confidence in God beyond our present circumstances. Amen.
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