Peace vs Fear

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

Peace is rather elusive, isn’t it? Particularly the God kind. There is a significant difference when after a long day, kids (if you are blessed with them!) are sleeping, the house is quiet, you just sit on your couch or lay in bed and sigh and let the stillness envelop you. Day is done, for all intents and purposes it was a good day…. that’s a good peace. However, it’s a fleeting peace.

We have started 2025 with a sense of dread. I have heard “something is coming and it’s not good” from more people than I can count. I’m sure we can all agree, this year did not start off like we would have liked it too. I am talking about the world view. When this devotional comes out, it will be a week behind the message I gave when I MC’d our service. (I am including it after the prayer in case you missed it). This was our Father’s direct response to a conversation I was having. (Don’t ever think He is not present and know that He hears and knows everything going on in your life. He loves you THAT much). During that conversation, He spoke the words “Beginning of sorrows” to me. I have since seen these same words all over the place.

Like everyone, I see the news. It is impossible to escape it. Fires, earthquakes, wars etc. Matthew 24:6-13 NIV says, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pains”.  He told us very plainly what is happening and what will happen. Just as He told us that we are NOT TO BE ALARMED. That’s a tall order some days because let’s face it, it is a scary topic and not one we readily discuss. But we need to, after all, Jesus spoke about it and the prophets spoke about it. Here is where we make a choice. We can choose fear, worry, anxiety–bringing chaos into our minds. Or embrace what God gave us, power, love, and a sound mind!

It’s funny. When I take captive those fear producing thoughts and stand firm on His promises (He has told us countless times about how much He loves us and will never leave us) a beautiful calm comes over me. I am not afraid, I am not worried, I can rejoice! That’s what He says, “Rejoice for your salvation is at hand”.  That could be one hundred years from now or a minute from now, only He knows.

Fear robs us of time. Time we can spend loving, living, learning all that God has for us. Fear has its roots in uncertainty, it is based on what could happen, but peace comes from knowing WHO holds your future.

 We will hear more frightening events taking place. Jesus was crystal clear on that and what He says will take place WILL take place. Remember, God gives us the gift of choice. He will never force you to make a decision. We are bombarded 24/7 with the truth that it is almost impossible to shut off the events taking place all over the world. We are connected on cell phones, T.V., computers. We literally have the world in our hands just holding our cell phones. But there is a choice. Hit the OFF button! Radical, right? Disconnect the world and instead connect to the One who tells us not to fear. Who reminds us that nothing that happens in this world is not known by Him or a surprise to Him. Who tells us to “fear not, for I have overcome the world”. Let His peace fill you with serenity, light and love. So much love! Remember, we know how the story ends!

Prayer for this week:

My dear Father,

You know better than we do, the fear that comes from living in this world. How sometimes the unknown gets so overwhelming we cease to hear Your voice. We only hear the uncertainty and anxiety and chaos in our own heads. At those moments we ask You to let Your peace wash over us. Fill us with Your love and never let us forget Your promises of the life that awaits each of us with You.

In Your most precious name we pray,

Amen

Message from 1/10/25:

“MY LOVE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO SEEK IT. YET I HAVE SPOKEN THROUGH YOU MANY TIMES OF THIS AND THE FACT THAT I WILL NEVER LEAVE MY CHILDREN.

BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO REALIZE THE TIMES YOU LIVE IN. I SAID TO YOU CHILD “BEGINNING OF SORROWS” FOR THAT IS THE AGE YOU LIVE IN. I ALSO TOLD YOU, YOU NEED NOT FEAR WHAT COMES. AS MY CHILDREN, I WILL KEEP YOU SAFE. YOU THINK SAFE IS KEEPING ALL HARM FROM YOU. SAFE IS KNOWING NO MATTER WHAT MAY BEFALL YOU, YOU ARE ALWAYS SAFE IN MY LOVE. I HOLD YOU CLOSE TO ME ALWAYS.

REMEMBER AS TIME PASSES AND THE LABOR PAINS BECOME STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT TO REJOICE. REJOICE! FOR YOUR SALVATION IS AT HAND. CEASE TO THINK OF WHEN AND WHERE FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW NOR WILL YOU EVER KNOW. IT SHALL BE AS IT IS WRITTEN. I COME LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT. ALWAYS BE PREPARED MY CHILDREN. TAKE NO DAY GOING FORWARD FOR GRANTED, FOR EACH DAY IS A GIFT I GIVE YOU. USE IT WISELY”.