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“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

Over the past few weeks, we watched in amazement as people devoured grocery stores and lined up at gas stations as though we were going to starve in a few days. Water was a high commodity – none on the shelves. People were buying snack foods and nonperishable items until some of the shelves were bare, empty in anticipation of another Walmart truck coming to fill them back up.

Now I say this as a planner but also as one who doesn’t freak out. If I lived on the eastern coastline, I would have definitely taken precautions: boarded up my home and headed inland. But the very threat of the storm dumping us with rain and high winds sent people into panic mode buying generators, extra food, gasoline, etc.

Reminds me of this quote from Priscilla Shirer: “The enemy’s voice will focus on the past and the future; the voice of our God will focus us on today and will point us confidently toward the future.”

Fear, worry and intimidation never serve us well. The trio blinds us to the One who holds the entire world in the palm of His hands. When we choose to allow Satan to zero our attention to what we can’t change, then we sabotage what God has in store for today. When we allow Satan to control our thinking and ostracize what could happen tomorrow, then we demonstrate our lack of trust in God’s sovereignty for today and become paralyzed.

Don’t get me wrong – preparation and alertness is crucial if you are in close proximity to a storm. But resting and trusting in God, leaning in close so we hear His voice for today – that’s empowerment. And sweet friends that’s exactly why the enemy seeks to cover us up in fear, worry and intimidation. He doesn’t want us to experience the joy of simply following Jesus moment by moment. Depending on self or listening to our inner voice overshadowed by our past or intimidating us by our future definitely steals away God’s best. The One who knows it all, controls it all and fulfills it all longs to bathe us in His peace and trust.

“Father, uncertainty will always attempt to cloud our perspective and rob us of peace. Teach us how to focus on “now” and resist the urge to get lost in our past or future.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life