Fear, or complete trust in God ?

I´ve been busy fixing a website, which is now up and running, even though it´s not quite finished yet. What´s missing are pictures and a little more information about the mission work that we in our church are involved in. I haven´t been in the church for very long yet, so I lack the names of everyone and information about some things.

What´s been on my thought recently, is fear, especially among those who are Christians. But we should have our trust in God, not fears of various kinds. If it´s tough now and we are afraid of different things such as covid or the vaccine against said covid; How will we be able to cope with not being terrified when the antichrist comes to power and we are forbidden to buy and sell?

If we´re afraid now, then now is the time we need start working with said fear. Because when it gets even worse, we´ll have to completely trust in the Lord in everything.

The question is how to get there, to a total trust in God. A confidence that when the storms really area rageing, we just know that God is in complete control. Thinking of the disciples in the boat, when the storm roared and Jesus slept well. They had God's own son with them and were afraid. Even though we also have God's own Son with us, it´s not in the exactly same way.

We read this story and more like it from those who later became the apostles, and we see in their gospels and letters, the changes that occured. They no longer acted in fear. Instead, they went in a strong faith. Look at Paul when he gets a prophecy that his time was over, and the others said, do not go, but he went straight to his death with a complete trust in God.

Are we like Paul or like Peter when he went out on the waves to meet Jesus? Will our faith carry us in the toughest moments, or will we look at the circumstances - our faith begins to waver - we begin to sink?

Believe versus fear, not easy. So
metimes you probably do not know until you are there, exactly which category you belong to.

This brings to mind a story I heard a long time ago, which is said to have taken place in Russia. Winter and cold, 10 Christians were told to undress and walk out on the ice, naked. If they denied their faith, they were allowed to return, get dressed, and get warmed up. They stood there - holding each other's hands – worshiping Jesus. After a while, one of them gave up and went back, but then one of the prison guards took over his place - undressed - took the others' hands and tuned in to the song - until they all died.

Do we, you and I have that faith. When antichrist rises to power, will we be able to hold on to the faith we have, or will we give up, give in?

After all, we are living in the last of the last days. It's fascinating to see how many of the Bible's prophecies have come true now and have been doing so for a while. But it also means that the rest - the mark of antichrist - not being able to buy and sell - will also come. So if we do not have complete faith now, then we need to work on it.

Here´s a slightly more serious side for us as Christians. Something we can´t afford to ignore. Our God is great and many of us say that He is great, we sing songs about it too. But when it comes down to it, is He really so great to us that as what we sing about or say we believe? Everyone should examine their own heart.

Dear Father; Let none of us get caught up in fear of any kind, and help us to become so steadfast in our faith in Your greatness in all things, that the only thing we see is how great You are and what power You posess. Help us to always have our eyes on You, You who created everything. Give us of Your power and strength in and through everything. In Jesus name Amen

Phil 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God´s peace to everyone Ingemo