We try to watch the news each day. It is important to be aware of what is going on in the world around us, but I started to get REALLY angry about some of the bizarre and unjust things that people are doing in various places. My husband reminded me that this is not just people going crazy, but there are spiritual forces at work behind most of these events. Second Timothy 3 describes quite accurately just what we are seeing in our day and age.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come…Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived…” (2 Timothy 3:1, 12-13)
It can become quite discouraging, even despairing, if we remain focused on the bizarre and unsettling events in the news. How should we respond in our own hearts to the perilous times of these last days? On what should our thoughts and minds be focused instead of the persecutions and evil around us? Again, Timothy gave an antidote to the craziness,
“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them (godly pastors, godly teachers, godly parents), and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Our focus must be maintained on those things we have learned from God’s Word and from our faithful pastors and teachers. We must get back to the basic foundation of our faith–Christ Jesus. He will keep us grounded. He will give us the strategies through His Word to cope with all the craziness of this world. He will equip us to know how to keep moving forward when all the world is stymied and out of control. He will give us wisdom to make right decisions and to judge rightly between the directions He is guiding us in and what is a scare tactic of the devil to try to keep us paralyzed. So, keep up your Bible reading habit. It will help you know how to handle and interpret the news of the world without going crazy yourself. And continue daily in prayer, for His grace is sufficient to help us in every situation we may face.