We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10
The world is clamping down
Lots of Christians want an escape
Persecution is on Earth already in many countries
Persecution brings glory to the Lord
If we stand in His strength, it will be bearable
If we try in our own strength, like Peter, we risk denying Jesus
Jesus will walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death
It’s not like He hasn’t done enough for us already,
but He is our Father and our God and the Rock of our salvation
We can trust Him, we can continue to call on Him
We can look to Him for help in our times of trouble
Some of us will taste of the first death
We do not know what tomorrow brings
Let us not plan our death or our rescue in our minds
Similarly when God told David, don’t count your armies
That is flesh
That is trusting in chariots and horses
Jesus is our salvation in every instance
Every instance
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega
He knows the end from the beginning
God is not a man that He can lie
He is faithful
He will never leave us nor forsake us
He will walk with us, whatever we have to endure
As we see the storms raging against the Lord, hide under His wings
There will be no refuge in the world
If we trust in anything other than Jesus, we will be disappointed
Hide His word in your hearts, memorize as much of His word as you can
Listen for the still, small voice
He will lead us and guide us
He will give us wisdom and the provision we need to listen to Him,
to call upon Him, to remain close to Him
to help us endure and make it to the finish line of His glory
Keep His covering over your heart and trust only in Jesus,
not in yourself, not in your riches or in the arm of flesh
Jesus has overcome the world
Scriptural References:
God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man,
that He should repent: hath he said, and shall He not do it?
or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
1 Corinthians 21:1
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them:
for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee;
He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
He shall cry unto Me, Thou art my father, my God,
and the Rock of my Salvation.
Psalm 89:26
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.
1 Kings 19:12
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33