Be Ye Not Troubled

“And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.” – Mark 13:7

When the war in Iraq began, it seemed virtually impossible to escape the many images of warfare. For weeks, the news of “wars and rumors of wars” was broadcast twenty-four hours a day on television and radio. Even after the intense news coverage ended, disheartening stories from around the world seemed to flow without end. We read of unstable governments posing a threat to our nation, minority groups in other countries who are powerless and oppressed, and diseases with no cures that spread at alarming rates. To be sure, these are distressing days.

The news reports we hear about are serious and not to be ignored, but if we are not careful, we could find ourselves feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. Thankfully, God is our help in these trying times. We cannot escape the fact of war, but we can keep a balance between watching the news and reading the Word of God.

There is comfort in God's Word. Promises in the Bible remind us that we serve a God who never ceases to be in control, regardless of what circumstances look like or what the media report is. Our focus verse tells us that He knew these trying times would come, yet He said, “Be ye not troubled.” We can care for those who are hurt by the evils of our day, but we need not be troubled. The same God who spoke the world into existence is still in control of everything that happens upon it.

When we surrendered our lives to God through His Son Jesus, we entered into a covenant with the Most High God. He promises to keep and protect us, and He will shield us in the time of trouble. While we stay abreast with what is going on around the world, let us not neglect to stay in tune to God's voice and obey His Word. God can never fail—He is faithful and true.