The world around us feels like a madhouse. Mankind can be likened to a gigantic snowball rolling down a steep and perilous mountain: momentum gaining, becoming larger and faster, plummeting to its inevitable destruction. News headlines lead one to believe that they are a character living in the book Future Shock by Alvin Toffler or 1984 by George Orwell.
Information that once took weeks to reach someone across the world now travels within seconds via the Internet and various other forms of mass-communication. We hear of Iran’s nuclear program; the oil shortage; the declining value of the dollar; China’s growing economic and military might; global weather changes; food shortages—the list goes on and on.
In Matthew 24:24, Jesus states that this was the ‘beginning of sorrows’. Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries describe the word ‘sorrows’ as one in travail in childbirth. Labor pains start off very mild and far apart. The intensity, frequency and duration of the pain increase until the mother finally gives birth. This implies that the ‘sorrows’ mentioned in Matthew 24:24 will also intensify and become more frequent as time progresses.
A World Health Organization and Harvard University study found that the total economic burden of mental illness was $83.1 billion in the year 2000. In October 2007, the U.S. News and World Report estimated that one in four Americans have a diagnosable mental disorder. Also, the value of the global illicit drug market for the year 2003 was estimated at 400 billion dollars. No one can deny that we are living in a troubling time under stressful situations. Jesus said in Luke 21:26 that men’s hearts would be failing for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.
What solution does the world offer to obtain peace? From the previously stated information in this article, it can be deemed that a large percentage of the world has turned to illegal and prescription drugs. However, filling your life with illicit sex, money and drugs is a poor and temporary fix. Jesus said:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Many Christians may still be troubled to the point that they develop insomnia, eating disorders, depression, and a multitude of other maladies. So what’s up? What would cause a Christian to not have peace?
Luke 21:26 states that fear is why men’s hearts are failing. The disciples were controlled by fear when the soldiers took Jesus to Pilate. Peter even denied that he knew Jesus! However, on the day of Pentecost a different Peter preached with boldness and courage.
Who or what gave Peter this boldness? It was the Spirit of God within Peter that gave him the courage to face thousands of people and proclaim that Jesus was Lord. (Acts 2:4) Jesus sent the disciples another Comforter just as He had promised in John, chapter 14.
Years ago, I suffered frequent panic attacks because of a tremendous amount of stress in my life. Panic attacks are immobilizing–you may experience increased heart rate, chest pain, numbness or difficulty breathing. I memorized 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
This word became so real to me. I would think of it in my heart or say it out loud every time I felt the beginnings of a panic attack. God delivered me from this horrible fear when I began to trust Him with everything in my life. I had turned over my whole life to Jesus when I received Him as my Savior. Yet, after a time, there were parts of my life that I thought I could handle better than God. Children of God, that’s a lack of trust.
Isaiah 26:3:“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” To trust God completely is to have faith in all that He speaks to you. You must believe that He loves you. (John 3:16). You must believe that all things work together for the good to those that love God who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).
You must believe that He has thoughts of peace towards you (Jeremiah 29:11). You must believe that His mercy endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34). You must believe that God is able to perform what He has promised (Romans 4:21) Only then can you confess that there is “no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18.)
Precious saints, “Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (1 John 4:17).
This is awesome! The God of creation; the Lord of hosts; the Most High God; God Almighty; Alpha; Omega; I AM; the God of peace has given us the privilege to call Him ‘Father’.
Matthew 7:11: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Jesus said that our heavenly Father has numbered the hairs on our head. He cares for His children more than our minds can comprehend. Our heavenly Father will give you peace through the midst of the storm.
Father, thank You that we are sealed by Your precious Spirit. Thank You Lord that You will uphold us and keep us by Your mighty hand. Give Your children peace through the storms ahead. Give us the mind of Christ that we may stand in these last days. I ask in Jesus name. Amen.