Did this week take a lot of strength to manage and survive? For many of us, we might have struggled this week or are struggling right now. The life we live is so different –so changed– and some days it takes all we have to keep pushing forward.
Anxiety:
Perhaps you struggle with anxiety about sickness after the past two years of constant media’s barraging of Covid cases and symptoms. If you know the political truth of everything that’s happening (aka Covid has been used as a control mechanism), it can cause an inner battle as you deal with fear. Revelation 14:12 says as follows “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” If you are panicking and scared, take it to the Lord. He is with you even when you can’t sense it. His hand of peace and strength is upon even when you feel alone in your fear. Find a place to pray and worship as well as read devotionals like Jesus Calling or talk to a brother or sister in Christ and have them pray over you.
If you are struggling with fear over the state of the world, you’re not alone. Many of us feel the same way as we watch wars take place, shootings occur, and viruses impact our daily lives. As the government continues to tighten its hold on our lives, it may feel as if you’re suffocating in fear. Psalm 22:28 says, “For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” The Lord is our ruler. He is our king and our president. Know that the Lord has more control than any leaders’ control combined. He knows and sees what we are living through and he has sacrificed the life of his son, so we can press on with hope.
Spiritual Warfare:
Perhaps you dealt with spiritual warfare this week. The feeling of fear, depression or weariness from this battle can leave you burnt out and discouraged. It may take all you have to press on and not have dark thoughts that travel down long, lonely paths. If you are having suicidal thoughts or you are just plain weary, talk to someone who will pray with you and give you the compassion you need. If you don’t have someone in your life you can trust, pray or read verses like 1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
As hard as it can be to remember that the Lord won the battle between light and darkness, he did win it and that’s something you can take comfort in whether you’re struggling or not. He won the battle for YOU because he loves you and has a purpose for your life.
Riley Clemmon’s song “Irreplaceable” has beautiful lyrics that can lift your heart and remind you that you were chosen by God.
So many days I feel like I’m invisible
How could a God so big notice me here at all
One of a billion prayers at Your feet
One of so many people in need
Lost in the lie that tells me I am nothing special
But to You I am
More than just a face in the crowd
Worth more than gold at any amount
To You I am irreplaceable
The scars in Your hands
Say that I am worth fighting for
They say that I’m forever adored
To You I am irreplaceable
You can find the full lyrics at Riley Clemmons – Irreplaceable Lyrics | AZLyrics.com and the song at Riley Clemmons – Irreplaceable (Audio) – YouTube.
To continue, if you have dealt with spiritual warfare, have a trusted person pray over you and repeat verses like 2 Corinthians 10:4, “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” Even simply saying the name of Jesus can dispel dark forces that are around you.
We must strive for righteousness as well as hold fast to God’s promises, so we can live out his purposes in our lives. The Lord made you for a time such as this and he equipped you for this time.
There is a simple truth we can stand on despite the opposition we face: Jesus loves you. This I know for the Bible tells me so.