Living With Fear

I know that the main thing that most people are talking about lately is what's going on with Japan. Just watching the news this morning my heart was torn. I can't believe in spite of everything Japan is going through it's snowing today. Not mild flurries, but large, heavy flakes.

Meanwhile troops are still trying to get to remote locations to see if survivors remain, and people are still trying to get a handle on how to cool down the nuclear reactors. Rumors are circulating whether or not Japan is being truthful on just how dire the situation is and if there is a threat to a nuclear meltdown, not just in one reactor but 5.

Just today, the talk among my family and even the friends of my daughters in high school is just what should we be concerned about with the threat of a nuclear cloud that is suppose to hit Southern California tomorrow, Friday.

It's gotten so extreme that reports are that people are beginning to horde iodine pills in the event it's a greater risk than what people have been saying. Most reports are that it shouldn't pose anymore of a threat than a chest Xray.

My brothers girlfriend is panicked, ready to begin to leave town. She doesn't trust God to handle this situation. Worst yet, people wonder what will happen in the worst case scenario, if all 5 reactors blow? What then?

Should we begin heading west?

Should we leave now while we can?

Is this the end of the world as the Bible has predicted?

What should we do?

This is where trusting God to prevail comes in hand. I believe one should take some precautions but nothing outside what God, Himself, can handle? I'm not running to my local military supply company to find survival foods, and gas masks. I'm not stock piling my money in small amounts in the event there's a run on the banks. I'm not even stockpiling my food, just in case the stores should close.

So what should we do?

First of all, PRAY! Ask God to release your fears and anxieties on Him. Worry NOT! Do you really want to be a professional worrier? People say practice makes perfect or permanent in some circles, so I would refrain from being a professional worrier. I would strive to become a professional pray warrior instead. I would rather have a direct line to God and talk to Him about my concerns.

We must remember the verses of Matthew 6:25-34, which tell us NOT to WORRY about ANYTHING. How much more precious are we to God over the birds of the air or the lilies of the field. We are so important He has counted every single hair on our heads. God will take care of our daily needs if that is all we focus on. Not next week, the weekend or even the end of the month.

We aren't suppose to live our lives like that. No wonder it wrecks havoc on our bodies, our minds and our livelihood. It robs of us of God's provision and He can't work through us if we chose to bear our own loads.

Think of it this way, take every problem you have, and take a rock, large enough for you to lift and write your specific problem on it. Paint it, draw on it, carve it into the rock. The point is to label it. Then carry it all the time. You can't put it down. See how long you can go without it affecting you in some way. Every time you have a new problem, don't forget to pick up a new rock and continue to carry them both.

When you get so tired of trying to do it yourself, try handing it off to God. Remember everytime you think God isn't doing enough, you have to pick up those rocks and carry them again. I would challenge you that it would only take you a short while before you would willingly hand them over to God every single time. No amount of rocks are too great for God to bear.

SO why do we chose to handle things on our own instead of merely coming to God every single time, talk to Him through prayer and hand it over. It definitely makes the load easier to bear in the long run and keeps us physically stronger as well as spiritually stronger.

So which path will you take? Will you take on your own rocks on yourself, will you live a life of fear, or will you chose God?

For me, I chose God! I stand firm in my faith and am willing to take whatever comes my way. I remember that nothing comes as a surprise to God and no matter what, I will know where I will go when this life ends. This is not the life I was destined to live and look forward to seeing just how God intended it all to be when I get to heaven.

Yet let us also heed God's warning and be ready, now is not the time to hesitate on your decision. You may not have a tomorrow:

Matthew 24: 7-8 "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains."

We are already seeing these signs based on things happening in Libya and the Middle East as well as earthquakes in New Zealand, Japan and even Chile this morning. The time is now to decide where will you spend your eternity and whom will you serve.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!