[Transcript from podcast]
I am sure you have noticed just how much turmoil, violence and all kinds of evil there is in this world. It’s not too hard to miss, is it?! It can certainly be stressful - at the least, cause anxiety, fear, doubt. Sometimes, that fear and anxiety can show up as anger, unkind speech and hateful attitudes. All this just adds to an already unbearable world!
But there is hope.
One of the best ways to deal with all that is happening in this world is to turn to Scripture,
where we find several Bible verses that remind us of one very important and comforting fact: God is always in control.
If you ever feel overwhelmed by the world we live in - and it can happen quickly and often - then take comfort in knowing that if you are a Christian, then God is in control! Christians are the most blessed people in all the world. Why? Because we belong to God!
Here is the blessing - we have a promise that “God is faithful - meaning He is there for us - and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” (1 Cor 10:13). But most comforting is what is found in His word, such as Psalm 22:28, "For the kingdom is the LORD's, And He rules over the nations." In other words, God is in control!
Today, I want to share with you a few passages that you can turn to for comfort when the world semsto be pressing in - there are many, but these are just a few that I believe you will like.
The first Scripture I want to share with you is, Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Like many psalms, King David wrote this during a season of trouble in his life. It is a psalm about confidence and triumph - because David trusted in the Lord. Notice he uses three very specific words: God is his light, his strength, and his salvation.
David called God his LIGHT
God Himself brought light to David’s life, so he had no despair in darkness. His life was filled with the Lord, so his life was filled with the light.
Isn’t that what God is for us? Should be for us? He is our light!
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
In fact, before there could be life of any kind, there had to be light, which God not only created (Genesis 1:3-5); but God himself is Light. Thus, when Jesus Christ said, "I am the Light of the world," it was equivalent in every way to an announcement of His Deity, of Him being part of the Godhead.
Amazing thing about light is that it automatically bears witness of itself. Think about that, when there is light it is obvious it exists!
The Light of God shines over all the world and yet, "The fool has said in his heart, `there is no God'" (Psalms 14:1).
David also calls God his STRENGTH
The word "strength" here means “a place or means of safety, protection, refuge, a stronghold, or fortress” THAT is indeed what David is referring to - imagine being in a fortress!
David uses this term often - I am reminded of his battle with Goliath. One would think that after such an incredible victory, David would never again doubt God as his strength.
The following verse is very comforting - that we can still apply to us today!
In Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
David says God is his SALVATION
The fact is, without God, there is no salvation of any kind whatsoever. Only in his Son Jesus Christ, is God's salvation available to all men - provided that they obey the terms God himself has commanded.
The apostle John summed up the whole business of salvation in a few words, "God gave unto us eternal life; and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11).
So, God is here recognized as the Light, the Salvation, and the Stronghold (or fortress) of the believer. So, remember that in times of distress and anxiety. Just as Paul said in Romans 8:31,"If God be for us, who can be against us?"
The second Scripture I want to share with you is Psalm 46
This is one of my favorite Psalms! Here God is called a refuge. By definition, a refuge is a safe place. No, I am not talking about the kind of safe place that has been sensationalized in the media. When the Bible describes God as our refuge, it is saying that IN God we can find the place we need for protection from something.
ILL: I remember growing up in rural, small town Texas. We had lots of tornados over the years, still do. So, we had a safe place - it was called a storm shelter, or as we would say, a “Cellar.” It kept us safe during a dangerous time. Think of God in that way!
Knowing God is our refuge enables us to trust Him more freely. We need not fear situations or people who threaten our well-being, whether that be in a physical or spiritual sense. There is no situation we will ever face that is out of God’s control, so the best place to be, always, is right with Him, in Him.
This means you need to know God and His nature - because as Solomon wrote:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil." (Ecc 12:13-14)
Jesus then said in Matt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
In God, we are safe - both physically and spiritually. Physically because He provides hope, peace and assurance - Spiritually because we have assurance of eternal life
Read rest of Psalm 46 - let this serve as comfort and assurance for you!
Another Scripture I want to share with you is Psalm 94
This Psalm tells us is that God will NOT Forsake us! Even in rough or desperate situations, we can be filled with the joy of the Lord. He is our consolation and His Word can alleviate anxiety like nothing else can. God can bring joy to your soul even during times when you’re most anxious by simply knowing that He’s present and trusting in His power.
Look specifically at V19 - In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
So even when we are in a “multitude of anxieties” God’s word can comfort us!
I honestly can’t imagine what it must be like to not have God, Christ or His church when I am faced with difficult times, or if we were in times of war, in times of persecution. As difficult as it is with God, to not have God and His word just seems beyond unbearable!
So, remember these three Psalms - 22, 46, 94 at any time you feel worried, down, overwhelmed or just need a little bit of encouragement! These will help you remember GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Isaiah 41:10 is another great verse, rich with the promises of God.
The context is the prophet talking to the Israelites in Babylonian captivity - that they will ultimately be rescued from their enemies. They were in some TERRIBLE times! Their nation destroyed, they were in a strangle land, strange customs and terrible situations. No temple, no altar, no ark of the covenant = no hope, no assurance. Faced with their sins having caused this, they were about as low as one could get!
And God says … V10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
It’s what God has been trying to get them to understand all along! If they would have just trusted in Him and leaned on Him from beginning, they wouldn’t be in that bad place. So, He is STILL there and He WILL help them!
Ultimately, the Lord wants to impart to us - through this verse - that we also shouldn’t be afraid. Even in the worse case scenario!
One reason why God warns us against fear is that it can negate the prayers we ask of Him and sidetrack the blessings that He has in store for us. GOD IS IN CONTROL!
That leads us to our final verse: Philippians 4:4-9
I just love this verse and I have meditated on this passage many many times in the past.
V4 Rejoice! Did you know that Paul wrote those words while he was in prison? So the fact that Paul was able to overcome anxiety, even during his own imprisonment, makes the passage all the more encouraging for us!
V5 Gentleness known - listen, when we get frustrated, worried and stressed - that can come out as anger, lashing out - that should have no place in anyone’s life much less the life of a Christian!
Gentleness is part of the Fruit of the Spirit - what a stark contrast it is to the rest of the world!
People notice when someone is calm and gentle while everyone is panicking and rude.
Really … How hard is it to be kind to the grocery store cashier, the delivery driver, the waitress, or any of the many people you come in contact with?
Will they see Jesus in you? That’s what this is all about!
V6 Paul wrote that everything is the proper subject of prayer. There are not some areas of our lives that are of no concern to God. Now, prayer is a broader word that means our communication with God, but supplication means to directly ask God to do something.
Many of our prayers go unanswered because we simply do not ask God for anything. Paul is saying that God already knows our requests before we ask, but He still wants us to come to Him through prayer before granting that which we request.
With thanksgiving: This keeps us from whining, complaining to God when we pray.
V7 peace - this peace is a gift from God. It is only available to those who have a relationship with God. It is not impossible to understand, but it does gho beyond our ability to fully understand its depth - you just have to experience it.
That’s because its source is God - it is something that God provides for us; thus it guards over our heart and mind.
We have all seen people lose their minds, their composure and exhibit really bad behavior - it because there is an absence of the peace of God in their life!
V8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
So, turn off the news, get off social media a while and pick up your Bible. Do good things for people, call and check on loved ones. Meditate on good things!
Lastly, isn’t it comforting that these ancient verses I have shared with you today are still capable of addressing modern problems, worries, or stresses? The fact is, the lessons from these passages are timeless and can help anyone who is a faithful Christian. Man is no different today than thousand of years ago!
I pray this has encouraged you today, I hope it has helped you to see that GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL! Trust Him, believe in Him and your life will be blessed.
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