Question: After hearing about so many scary events happening in the world, I’m almost afraid to leave my house. Help!

Answer: From natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes destroying cities to increasing local crime and terrorist attacks, there’s plenty of news to cause fear.  But dangerous events  and crimes, while seeming to be on the rise, are actually nothing new.  Jesus told His disciples to expect various types of troubling events.  In Matthew 24: 6-7, Jesus says, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” ( NKJV )

Our God IS an awesome God!  He wants us to remember that He knows that Satan spreads evil in the world.  God knows there are many things that make us fearful. But, as the Apostle Paul tells us in 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.”  As Christians, we are to put our faith and trust in God.  We are to pray to God to protect us wherever we go. And, pray for wisdom to know when we should stay where we are and not go in order to avoid danger.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, asked Him to forgive your sins, and repented of your sins, you know your life is now in the hands of Jesus. He has empowered you with His Holy Spirit to guide and protect you.  He will keep you in His loving care until He decides to call you home to heaven.  Until that time comes, God wants us to continue to live our lives and to live our lives in the ways that please Him.

Therefore, you should continue to enjoy life with your family and friends.  Enjoy being the hands and feet of Jesus by helping those in need. Enjoy doing all you can to show God’s love to others…especially to those who are not yet Believers!  Pray for wisdom to know when and how to avoid dangerous situations.  But do not make yourself a slave to the fears caused by that “thief,” the devil.  Remember the words of Jesus found in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Amen!

So, go out and enjoy that abundant life God has planned for you!

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