Why Should I Fear In Times Of Trouble?

Do you ever feel like things are spinning out of control? That people at large are exponentially losing their ability to reason, even about straightforward things? That the wealthy and the powerful are calling the shots, attempting to force society to conform to their way of thinking and godless laws? That many seem to be walking away from Biblical teachings and God Himself? Even those who profess to be Christians? And all the while, these people seem to be prospering.

In today’s world it’s easy to become anxious, overwhelmed, discouraged. Even as I write this, I feel a heaviness in my spirit over the condition, direction, and decline of our world. Especially my homeland, the United States.

The good news is, we don’t have to bear the weight of this world on our own. We are not expected to buck up and stand strong in our own power. John 14:15-17 tells us, as Christians, we have a resource we can draw on that the world does not have:

Amen! Am I right?

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Psalm 49 also reminds us of the destiny of those who are proud and lofty; who have foolish confidence in themselves; who boast and lord themselves over others because of their wealth and power:

“Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
    Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.“
Psalm 49:14

But God ransoms the soul of the righteous!

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Psalm 49

Hear this, all peoples!
    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
both low and high,
    rich and poor together!
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

Why should I fear in times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly no man can ransom another,
    or give to God the price of his life,
for the ransom of their life is costly
    and can never suffice,
that he should live on forever
    and never see the pit.

For he sees that even the wise die;
    the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and leave their wealth to others.
Their graves are their homes forever,
    their dwelling places to all generations,
    though they called lands by their own names.
Man in his pomp will not remain;
    he is like the beasts that perish.

This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
    yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
    Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will receive me. Selah

Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
    his glory will not go down after him.
For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
    —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
    who will never again see light.
Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

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Therefore, let us not regard man. Instead, let’s put our faith in the Lord; abiding and trusting in Him and the infallibility of His word and His promises. Man cannot take anything eternal from us. We can rest with confidence, knowing that God has, and will ransom our souls for all of eternity!

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26

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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.