Whether it’s social media, the radio or the news, everywhere you turn you hear voices of fear and panic these days. The recent tragedies in Minnesota, Baton Rouge and now Dallas are horrific and life-altering for many no doubt. Souls are crushed, emotions are high and despair seems to be setting in.
For those who have been affected personally, in love I grieve with them, mourn for them and my prayers pour out for their healing. But if we are not careful, we can allow what’s going on in our nation to “infect” the precious soil of our hearts. And that’s when we need to take a step back, turn off the noise and renew our hearts and minds with Truth.
No one is more grieved, saddened and hurt by these happenings than God Himself. “In His own being He feels every separation and loss, every heart split open with grief, every cry of mourning down the corridors of time. ” (Brennan Manning, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus). It is never ever God’s heart for humanity to suffer. It has always been His heart and longing for us to thrive on and in His love.
However, true love cannot be forced. This is why we were given free will thus leading to the fall of man and earth. Of course that is not where our love story ends. God chose His Son to be our ransom long before the world began (1 Peter 1:20 NLT).
Beloved, at the cross, Jesus not only became our sin, He took all our suffering and pain, sicknesses and curse upon Himself so we could be healed! He conquered death and was raised to give you His very life! He is a life-giver, a life-saver, a life-restorer! Jesus came to give you life, life and more life! And there is nothing He wants more than for you to enjoy this life with Him by trusting in what He’s done for you and what He will do for you by resting in His unconditional love.
That’s why you can come to Him as you are. Pour out your heart to Him. Be real and share with Him your doubts, fears and feelings. Cry. Say nothing. Scream. He knows your heart fully and meets you where you are. Just come.
When you do, His perfect love for you will calm those fears and remind you of the truth that leads your heart to His peace that surpasses your understanding. He loves and cares for you so deeply, He doesn’t want your heart weighed down by the very burdens He carried and died to set you free from.
If you are a believer, you are In Christ. He Himself is your Fortress and Refuge; your place of safety. He alone is your Protection when you put your trust in Him.
By all means, there is nothing wrong with staying informed. We are living in perilous times. There is darkness all around us in the world. But we don’t belong to the world. We belong to Him! You are His child! Don’t buy into the lie that because it happened to someone else it will happen to you. To live in constant fear is to partner with the enemy leaving no room for you to enjoy God and yourself.
When anxieties about the future overwhelm you or you find yourself worried about the safety of your family, it’s time to tune-in to the voice of Truth, your Daddy God who says to you, “Don’t be afraid My child. Remain at rest. I’ll fight for you. I’ve got this.”
What you listen to matters. It enters into your soul and spirit. So amidst the tweets, news reports and Facebook opinions, choose to guard your heart by listening to what God is saying. Speak His promises over you and your family and His Word will not come back empty handed! And if you’re not sure what those promises are, just ask Him to show you! He loves that-it’s relationship!
In the meantime, you can start here. “Say this: ‘God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!’ That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing…” (Psalm 91 MSG).
Now you can let go and breathe easy. In His big tender arms, there is always an abundance of beauty to behold, life to be lived and joy to be experienced.
Resting in His love,
Annalee Reyes
