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

These days you almost have to have nerves of steel, a heart of stone, and a cast iron stomach in order to watch the news on a regular basis!  I rarely ever pull the news up around here because it can be overwhelming.  While we need to stay informed, we have to be careful to not get so caught up in what’s going on that it causes fear and anxiety.  I live just south of Nashville, TN and everything here has changed drastically over the last ten to fifteen years!  The crime rates are through the roof and it is heartbreaking.  It would be easy to become consumed with it all.  I get emails daily, sometimes multiple times a day that update me on all that is going on in Israel so I know how to pray for them as well.  That is how we must handle all of it! The news and any other source of information that could cause you to be anxious or fearful is there for you to know how to pray!  God calls us away from fear to a life of trusting Him.  

This world is a mess and getting messier every day, but God is still on His throne.  He sees it all and nothing surprises Him.  He has a plan.  Think about this; as a small child is growing up, it would be very abnormal for him/her to be concerned about whether or not the electric bill is going to get paid or to worry about having to protect the home from someone breaking in.  Children don’t even think about the everyday concerns adults have because they trust their parents for everything they need.  God loves you and He knows what is best, He knows what to allow and not allow in your life to grow you into all of the potential He knows you have.  He is present and He is always working on things that concern you and those you love.  All He is asking is for you to get to know Him, trust Him, and walk with Him.  He is better than a “good parent” because He sees everything, He knows everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen, and He is God!  Nothing is too difficult for Him!  

So, if you find something is causing you anxiety or causing you to be consumed with fear remind yourself that those feelings are not from God. Take some deep breaths and pray.  Spending time reading your Bible can help by reminding you of the faithfulness of God.  Don’t focus on the “what ifs”, focus on “even if” because even if struggles come your God is able.  Think of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-Nego that was an extreme case of “even if” and they could live that out because their trust was fully in God.  God not only delivered them, but they didn’t even smell like smoke when they came out of that fiery furnace!  He is able!