Source

Father,The blanket of anxiety that is smothering Your childrenis not from You.The fear being broadcast and consumed across this landis not from You.The unease that permeates every moment and lays heavy on heartsis not from You.It is NOT from You!If this darkness of dread is not from You, and it isn’t,I know its source.I know the who behind the hatred,and the lies, and the trembling,and the apprehension.I also know that You are greaterthan the one who is feeding hysteriato the masses.You are greater than the helplessnessruling our hearts.You are more than the minions of terrorcreeping across this land.You are MORE.You are GREATER –and I am Yours.Help me remember.

As I write, I know that the absence of fear does not mean the absence of trouble. Christ promised – yes promised – that we would experience tribulation in this world. He said there would be times of persecution and turmoil. This is reality.

But He also promised that we could be overcomers; people who could live in peace right smack in the middle of the mess.

We can’t do this in our own strength, but we can claim His strength. We can take each step with our eyes focused on Him. We can rejoice, not in the trouble, but in His prevailing power and love.

Fear paralyzes. Jesus came to set us free.

I John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might havepeace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Romans 8:³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷ Nay,in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Photos – Over the Mountains, Eddy Mims; Storm Rising, Beth Mims