Do you fear God or the world?
Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isaiah 8:12-13 (ESV)
Looking at the news these days makes my head spin. Negativity. Blame Games. Never-ending conspiracy theories.
Even trying to look up a Christian perspective gives conflicting reports… so what are we to do?
Of course, we will find our answers in the only source of truth: the Scriptures. While I was studying Isaiah 8, this passage hit me like a ton of bricks.
I realized I was approaching my anxiety all wrong. I was fearing the world rather than God. The phrase “fear God” doesn’t mean we should be afraid of God— but rather to fully submit, respect, and trust Him.
So what does this look like in our daily lives? For me, it looks like this:
1. Praying God’s will over the news
2. Speaking God’s truth louder than the world’s anxieties
3. Firmly planting my faith in God, so no worldly stressor can cause me to stumble
4. Doing what I can to further His kingdom
5. Trusting God when I can’t take action.
My mind quiets, and my heart calms when I remember our holy and perfect God, who also has a holy and perfect plan for each of us.
Lord, please help my readers cast off their fears of the world and embrace the steadfast peace that comes only with trusting you. Amen.
Leslie L. Bowers
