Our world seems upside down right now. Whether it’s the Coronavirus, politics, tornadoes in Tennessee, or the wild stock market… there’s so much unrest and chaos. We are told in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Easier said than done, right?
One of the things I have learned over the years is that anxiety, worrying about the “what if’s” in life, will drain your strength and energy. It’s not a fun way to live. Corrie Ten Boom, who courageously resisted the Nazi’s persecution, once said: “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.”
For those of us who know the Lord, the uncertainty and anxiety of our world today provides us with three (3) amazing opportunities:
1. To share the Good News about Jesus Christ and the confidence that comes from a personal relationship with Him.
In I Peter 3:15, God commands, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
When you speak with friends and family who are afraid and wondering why you are not, you have the perfect opportunity to share with them the hope and peace found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. To model the difference that Christ makes in a person’s outlook and attitude.
Isaiah 26:3 contains an incredible promise. It says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
This is an attitude that only a Christ-follower can adopt in times such as these. Make a daily choice to trust in the Lord and in His plan. He is more than able to take on your worries, your burdens, and your fear. Model that trust to others!
3. To respond with the same compassion and care that Jesus Christ would show.
Matthew 9:36 states; “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
Have you ever noticed how Jesus Christ’s compassion was ALWAYS followed by action? What an example! Instead of anxiety, take action. Look for the opportunities to share Christ, to model Christlikeness, and to serve others.
Trusting Him,
Don Lough, Jr.
Executive Director
Word of Life Fellowship
