Navigating Perilous Times with Faith: Unveiling the Stability Found in Knowing God

Posted on Dec 19, 2023 Topic : Men's Christian Living, Prophecy, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Barry Stagner

At time where the world is spiraling out of control and evil and good have exchanged definitions, truth has become a personal choice rather than universal fact. At a time where we are hearing threats of World War III and hundreds of thousands around the world are marching in solidarity against the nation of Israel and God’s chosen people, it is easy to fall into fear.

This is what we need to remember when fear tries to creep in and rule our minds and emotions:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. —2 Timothy 1:7

What a great and glorious truth this is! We could well understand this as Satan trying to impose his will on us and God giving us superior weapons to combat him. This reminds us of a couple of great truths.

First, we are going to encounter fearful situations in life, yet even then the feeling of fear is not from God. In a word, we could say thatknowing God offers us stability at all times and in all situations—including the perilous times in which we now live.

Second, God does allow us to encounter situations that might cause our flesh to fear or worry, but His provision in those situations is not fear, but rather fear’s antithesis—power, love, and a sound mind. The circumstances that challenge them are often the tactics of the enemy seeking to impose his will on our lives.

Satan loves to exploit our vulnerabilities and weakness and seeks to take life’s trials and troubles and turn them into doubts and despair. Our weapon against this is the very Spirit that is within us. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”—1 John 4:4b

Christians have the distinct advantage, even in the most perilous of times, of having the Holy Spirit within them. The Spirit is in us and is greater than the one who only comes to steal, kill and destroy. We have within us the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, the same Spirit gave birth to the church at Pentecost, the same Spirit who inspired the written word of God. This is the same Spirit, according to Ephesians 1:13, whose presence within us is the guarantee of our future inheritance in heaven.

Paul indicates that the fear he is speaking of is spiritual. There is nothing wrong with being afraid of a lion, a tiger, or a bear (oh my!); fear of this sort is natural and even healthy. But fear in the realm of the spirit is not from God. Through Him, we can approach the unknown outcomes of life with power, love, and a sound mind. In other words, God has given us the ability not to freak out!

This doesn’t mean we won’t have concerns—even deep ones—or that we move through life as unfeeling, emotionless blobs. But Paul is saying here that you and I, as Christians, possess a God-supplied ability to meet fearful situations with His power and, because of His love, with a mental stability not available to those who face crisis or difficulty alone.

So when fear creeps in, remember, it’s not from God. He has given you power, love, and a sound mind, no matter what you may be facing or are called to endure!

There are no times, seasons or situations in life or the world where this is not true, including the times we are living in today.