Peace Rather Than Panic (Proverbs 3:25-26)
Proverbs 3:25-26, “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” Many people panic when they're faced with severe problems. We can't escape many of the problems in our lives, but we have been given the ability to control our reaction to the problems we face. Our reaction to problems is much more important than the problems themselves. Two people can face the same problem—one person can react calmly with faith in God while the other person panics. The Lord is our confidence. He keeps our foot from being taken in snares and traps of the wicked. Confidence in the Lord and His Word also leads to balance or stability. He is the One that keeps our foot from being caught in a trap. There may be times that people may try to entrap or hurt you. There may be times that people may covet something you have or be jealous of you for some reason. You may have unknowingly offended them, too, and they will set out to destroy you, or try to discredit you by setting a trap. The Pharisees tried to entrap Jesus for the purpose of destroying Him. The bravest and securest men in world history were those who put their trust in the Lord.
The range of our emotions is a clear indication of maturity. Our Father wants us to learn to yield our emotions to Him. Our Father wants us to learn to react calmly to the problems we face because we trust Him to solve the problems we can't solve ourselves. Safety is not found in avoiding danger but in obeying God. People whose lives revolve around themselves believe they have to solve every problem with human ability. Our Father says we shouldn't panic when we're in the midst of the storms of life. He wants us to remain calm because we trust completely in Him (Proverbs 3:25-26). Crises and trouble do arise in life. However, for the people of God possessing godly wisdom, the command is to fear not. When we dwell in the secret place of the most High and possess godly wisdom and discretion of life, God will be our confidence and guard. He will not suffer the righteous to be moved. The wise person, the one who has embraced wisdom, which includes embracing Christ as Saviour, Who is our wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3), does not and should not fear what the unsaved fear. Wisdom is not to fear when folly is judged. Wisdom has hope ("the Lord shall be thy confidence") that folly does not have. This hope enables wisdom not to fear. In spite of what is happening in the world, those who put their trust in God will be safe and saved. In fact, they can sweetly sleep when others are panicking and in trouble. Your relationship with God will bring strength and stability. He is the one that gives confidence or security to the believer. He is at our side. The fact that He hears the prayers of the righteous give us serenity and hope. Walking with God gives you peace. Abraham Lincoln won the presidency of a divided country. There were four major candidates in 1860, and Lincoln only narrowly received his electoral majority. Among his harshest critics was Edwin Stanton of Ohio who opposed Lincoln’s election, calling him, among other things, the “original gorilla.” Yet Lincoln asked Stanton to serve as Secretary of War, recognizing his organizational skills were greatly needed for the war effort and being the best person for the job. When Lincoln was assassinated, Stanton said, “There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen.” We do not have to strike back at everyone who says or does something with which we disagree. It may be temporarily satisfying, but in the end it leads to bitterness and often an escalating cycle of revenge and retaliatory actions. Love does not insist on getting even—in fact it glories in peace. Paul wrote that love, “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (I Corinthians 13:5). Many people find themselves living stress-filled lives because they do not allow love to do its work of peace. When we lack peace, we should view that as a reminder to focus on God rather than on our circumstances. Panic also stops us from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants us to keep the focus on Him open. He doesn't want us to block this channel with negative emotions such as fear, worry, doubt and unbelief. We should never allow ourselves to be discouraged by the problems we face. Nothing good ever comes from discouragement. This word means lack of courage. Romans 15:5, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus”. God’s Word instructs us how to live our lives and gives us the encouragement we must have to hold fast to God's promises, refusing to give up hope. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to respond to your problems with calm, quiet confidence in the Lord instead of panicking. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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