Standing Firm in Life’s Storms

All the promises of God are yes and amen. God can’t lie. If He has promised us something in His Word, then we can stake our lives on it.

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Hebrews 12:27-28 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

We live in a world, today, in which many are filled with anxiety from a lack of peace from the various storms blowing across the landscapes of the world. Storms such as disease, political unrest, terrorism, the constant threat of nuclear war, riots, homelessness, bigotry, drought, starvation, financial woes, health issues, and more threaten our peace of mind. However, during the storms of life, we have an anchor of hope that allows us to stand firm when turbulent winds are blowing. We are part of the kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Hebrews 6:17-19 Thus God determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.

The worldly solution to those dealing with fear, depression, anxieties, and pain is to medicate themselves to the point they’re numb to all that is going on around them. Once a year I go to the VA Clinic for my annual checkup. They always ask me the same questions. What medications are you taking and are you dealing with depression or anxiety? When I say to them, “I don’t deal with depression and I’m not taking medications,” they look at me kind of strange and say, “Really!” They’re so used to dealing with depression, anxiety, and medicating everyone, it surprises them when someone comes along who doesn’t deal with depression or needs to be medicated. God has a better solution, although I do understand some deal with clinical depression and need to be on medications. We have the ability in Christ to stand firm amid life’s storms without being medicated. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us daily, who always leads us in triumph. We have grace in the midst of all that is shaking.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our relationship with the Lord is designed to keep our spirit, soul, and body healthy. When we live according to God’s designed ways, we will be healthy in all three of these areas. God desires to show those of us who have joined the ranks of those who are the heirs of the promises that He is faithful to keep His promises.

All the promises of God are yes and amen. God can’t lie. If He has promised us something in His Word, then we can stake our lives on it. His Word says He has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. This is the part of the hope that is set before us as the above passage of Scripture implies. As we adjust and live our lives according to what He’s promised, we will have peace of mind, free from anxious thoughts that give birth to depression. We will stand firm even when the circumstances of our lives may be saying something different. As we hold fast to our confession of hope, He is always faithfully there to comfort and supply our needs.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Aside from the hope that we have in Christ and the promises we have inherited, Paul gives us a good prescription for standing firm and overcoming fear, anxiety, and depression in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:6-8 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report. If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Most of what is mentioned in this passage of Scripture is the exact opposite of what is force-fed into our minds daily. We wonder why so many are dealing with depression and anxiety. If I filled my mind with what the world wants to force-feed me, I’d probably be depressed too. I purposely watch very little news, especially local news, and refuse to fill my mind with all the political rhetoric that comes from all sides of the arguments. It’s all so depressing. There is very little that is of good report, true, and lovely that comes across the airwaves, yet that’s what people are filling their minds with, daily. It takes discipline to resist the squeeze of the world but if we want to stand firm in the midst of all that is going on in our world, we must follow Paul’s advice to the Philippian church and take the medicine he’s prescribing.

Allow the anchor of hope to fill your minds and hearts with all the goodness God has to offer and you will find yourself rejoicing in the Lord, standing firm in a sea of troubles without an anxious thought. Allow God to fill you with His treasures from above rather than the garbage that’s being spewed out from the cesspools of the world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father help me to fill my mind with those things that are truly noble and of good report as I come to You with my prayers and supplications. Fill my heart and mind with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help me to meditate on that which is praiseworthy that I may stand firm during the storms that rage around me. Help me not to get caught up in the whirlwinds of worldly thinking and rhetoric.

 

Written by: Kenneth L Birks

Straight Arrow Ministries 

Featured Image by Brandon Morgan

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