As I have mentioned before, when I began writing this blog in December of 2011, it was in response to a prompting by the Holy Spirit that I speak to people in this country who might be facing fear, worries, and anxiety as they saw the heart of America changing in bewildering ways. Maybe they couldn't quite put their finger on it, but it certainly felt as though our foundation was shifting; as if the winds of change were beginning to blow and they were anything but calming and soothing.
I felt those attacks on my soul, too, and instead of dissipating in the years since, they have only increased and become more obvious. At the time, I instinctively knew that God wanted to use me to write to others who might be fearing that the nature of our country was changing into something we didn't recognize. That's been over ten years ago, and I have witnessed the cycles of fear that the citizens of our nation have endured -- both the faithful and the secular. I've seen everything from panic, to retreating into a normalcy bias, to turning a blind eye, and now we're circling back to another level of anxiety and fear. But the purpose for this blog, as it has been from the beginning, is to be a source of hope for the fearful, while being honest and transparent about where we are in God's plan.
And by "fearful", I want to explore that term in all it's significance. First, I want to speak to those who "fear" our God in the sense of experiencing awe for His Sovereignty, and His Power, and His love for us. I want to be available as a source of encouragement, and to show less experienced Believers who we are to be in the world. I want to show them that we can be glad -- that we can rejoice -- even in the midst of our burdens and concerns over world events. And I don't want to sound trite about those concerns; we are certainly at a point in our history that bears serious consideration and apprehension.
And for those who "fear" the Lord out of lack of knowledge of Him, I desperately want to introduce their Savior to them! I want them to see me bold and confident; to witness my peace and contentment; and to notice that I am able to take control and responsibility --- all because God's Word has given me hope. I want to make it perfectly clear to them that His Gospel Messages of Salvation and His Kingdom on earth are the reasons that I do not fear, as they do. And because of my testimony to this group of "fearful" people, I will take great delight in seeing them "rejoice", as they come to know the Lord.
But there's a third group that also will need encouragement in these trying times. This group understands the duality of our Mighty God -- the complex reality of both His glorious love for us and His intense hatred of sin and evil, resulting in His righteous wrath. To properly "fear the Lord", we must hold both these sides of His nature in proper tension. It is essential that we understand that He is entitled to both because He is perfectly holy.
I will be honest ... I don't yet have a sense of whether we, as a nation, are destined for reprieve or justifiable punishment for our rebellion and disobedience. Like many of you, I have been praying, [for the sake of the righteous remnant who discern the spiritual state of our national soul and have been interceding for repentance], that our Father in Heaven will hear our cries and bring restoration, even as He disciplines the wicked.
But even in the midst of my uncertainty about our immediate future, I am hopeful and rejoice in the knowledge that God is ever present in times of both prosperity and trouble. It is who He is -- from the ancient past to our present, and from this moment in time to eternity -- He has never changed. He has always been with those He calls His own; even when it was necessary to chastise them. It is always His plan to restore us if we are willing to humble ourselves and seek Him. I have hope because I know who He is, and I know in the deepest part of my soul and spirit, who we are.
We have been through a rough season; and it may get even more turbulent. We may experience a period that will shake us to our core, but we have the hope of knowing our Savior will not abandon us. Even in the darkest hours of past generations, His Light could not be extinguished in those whose hope resided in Him. I want to be an expression of that hope for all who may be tempted to despair. I want others to know that my hope is a product of recognizing that Jesus is my strength to endure; He is my Power Source to destroy anything that the Enemy brings against me.
He will see us through all our troubles, temptations, and trials! He will never disappoint us if we lean on Him! Yes, these are certainly times that try men's souls.... but we are not bound by this realm. Our hope does not lie in resolving our temporal problems, but in the expectant hope that the King of the Universe fights for us in order to deliver us to an eternal home with Him. Rejoice, if you know Him! And share His Mercy, Grace and Truth with someone who doesn't. We are God's representatives in this time period on the earth, and let us invite all who "fear" Him, in all their ways, to come sit at the foot of His throne and worship Him!
Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’
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