2020 has been so hectic - so much has happened and forever, it will be 'the year everything went wrong’. As a world, we are becoming accustomed to expect the unexpected, and pigs flying is on the calendar for December lol. And it’s not just been the global pandemic, in fact, I don’t think this year is the year that everything went wrong, I think it is the year that something big enough went wrong and exposed all the cracks that were already there in our society. Additionally, it provided ample opportunity for every issue under the sun to get called out or alternatively, slip through in the midst of the craziness. For me, a lot of my life has remained the same, but there are a lot of things that instead of being a sure thing, are so uncertain and honestly, it’s brought a lot of unsettlement and anxiety around what’s to come, especially now that there is a lot more space in my life to be aware of everything that is going on, instead of burying myself in my assignments. Things like church as it used to be, Young Life national summer camp which was the highlight of my year, and travelling to see my interstate family were things that I had always taken for granted because they seemed solid and a secure thing that I knew would always be part of my life. But so quickly those things were removed from my life and even when they resume, some things will never be the same. And that’s a hard thing to process both from the loss of what is familiar and secure, but also with the ever present uncertainty that surrounds these things and so many other things. I don’t know about you, but honestly, it feels like everything that I thought was nailed down in my life, is just floating through space - no gravity, no fastening to anything and no certainty in direction. And this is super uncomfortable but it is teaching me a really valuable lesson.
Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” I have regularly praised God for this truth and this hope, but it has never meant more to me than it has recently because in the past, there have been many things that just happened to remain constant and my life and my world had stability. But with everything feeling like it is ‘floating’, I have been clinging to this so much and fully realizing just how much Jesus is the only Rock and certain thing in our lives. It can be so tempting to cling to something tangible, like little kids cling to their favourite teddy bear, and I’ve been guilty many times of clinging to the safety net of my work or my gym, or a particular person, or even hiding in a Netflix series that has predictability and an end-date! But seasons change and people change and anything that we try desperately to hold onto will eventually fall through. Except Jesus and His Word. And even though it can be hard to see or ‘feel’ God sometimes, His Word says that He is always with us and He will never leave us so we have that confidence and hope that goes beyond what is tangible. Feelings are no more stable than anything else in our life, so we have to CHOOSE to trust what we know that God says, and not go with what we feel in the midst of the chaos in our life. And what’s even better, is that Jesus not only happens to be there for us, but He wants to be our Rock and our comforter and for us to come to Him with everything.
So how do we combat the bubbling fears, worries and uncertainties about the world? God’s WORD. We need to get His Word and His promises into our minds so that the Holy Spirit can bring them to mind when we are in tough situations and process converting what we know and what we read, into our hearts so it can change our feelings and enable us to live out all that God wants for our lives. He doesn’t want us to live in fear - “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit for a reason! God gave this precious gift to us because it isn’t just words, it’s a living and active Word that carries power against the darkness in this world. But it can’t help us if we don’t use it... Below I have written a list of just some (there are soooo many gorgeous ones) of the key Scriptures that I have/am committing to memory that calm my mind when I’m starting to spiral. I really encourage you to write them up and stick them in your car, on your mirror, around your room, or anywhere that you go frequently.
Psalm 62:1 - “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”
Psalm 138:7 - “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me.”
John 16:33 - “I have told you all this so you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials, but take heart for I have overcome the world.”
Isaiah 41:10 - ‘So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
John 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Joshua 1:9 - “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Philippians 4:6-7 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God, and the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.”
Isaiah 46:4 - “I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
2 Timothy 4:17 - “But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength.”
Nahum 1:7 - “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 - “The Lord Himself goes before you, He will be with you. He will never leave or forsake you. Don’t be afraid, do not be discouraged.”
Ephesians 3:16-19 - “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how high and deep and how wide and long is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 6:10-13 - “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Romans 8:37-39 - “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Isaiah 54:10 - “ ‘For mountains may move and hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken’, says the Lord who has mercy on you.”
The other really awesome thing to help you remember God’s truths and promises when life is crazy, is putting on worship music. Even when you don’t feel like it, make the choice to praise Him and speak out those truths and the hope and life that are in His promises and love for us, and it will make a world of difference! (If you need any ideas, check out my song list here). The world has always been a little crazy, and it continues to be so, but God is our ‘safety blanket’ that is the same faithful God as He was from day 1, so just cling to Him! Love to you all xoxo

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