What are we afraid of?

 I have read an article sent to me through the internet, written by a prestigious newspaper columnist abroad under the title of A Daunting Reflection. It was about the potentially gigantic economic power a specific country will have if we do not start backing up our own home companies, even to our loss of capital, if we do not stop feeding the giant. Even though the truth is shocking we can not let ourselves fall into a depression. I remember some years ago another country arose into a financially big power and bought a lot of great companies in the U.S. At that time we thought we would be stepped on into nothing. And what happened? Here we are harmless.

This does not mean we have to be careless and not listen to the good intentioned people who know what they are talking about for they are experts on international affairs and want to warn us against any political or economical disaster. As long as we live in this world that God created for us to subdue, we are going to have to deal with the conveniences we have here. We should not ignore them and cloister ourselves to get away from problems. We must deal with them and do not be indolent when they strike others.  As Christians we should ask for God’s help first to overcome difficulties, and DO NOT BE AFRAID, for He knows his people. Jesus said: My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:27-28)  What a promise! We do not have to ever fear anything because He will protect us. Like David assured in his psalm: I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalms 34:4)

Therefore we should not get anxious even when everything seems almost done with. Our Lord and Savior knows the moment when all afflictions should come to an end for us. He probably lets us be tempted by our own lust so we learn to trust, and choose Him first. All through the Word of God there are promises that encourage all who wait on Him. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. (Nahum 1:7)  Whatever it is that threatens to destroy us, we must fear not. He will strengthen us to conquer. The non believers shall fall,  yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)

There are many people afraid during these election days. They think that a wrong choice would be the end of our Democracy and of our Christian values as it has happened to many of us. We have had to flee our countries having to leave everything behind, because we put our trust in men instead of on God. And the ones who took over forbade us to practice our Christian religions openly thinking that it would be the end of them. They infiltrated our churches to cause problems between the brethren. And you know what happened? Many infiltrators converted and the churches grew instead. God can not be cast out from where his children call upon Him. Let us use our voting resource and show the world that our Democracy is a Christian value and it will not be taken from us. And please, accept the peace that Christ left us. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27b)

Do you feel lonely and weary? Annoyed by everything? Who is to blame for it?

  Loneliness is a very common fact of life. Only those who have experienced it can really understand it, but there is a way out. We can even feel lonely when we are surrounded by people who love us. Why? It’s because, mankind is naturally egocentric. We simply wallow in our self pity, and as a result we are the only ones to blame for this. If we lose a sentimental partner and for any reason we don’t have another, we feel lonely despite our other relationships: our family, good friends, workmates, or buddies that we hang out with. We are lonely because WE don‘t have what we want, and what we do have, we don’t want.

I met a person who told me that loneliness was the greatest problem in his life. For every positive thing I mentioned as a solution, he found a negative side and came back with the same excuses as to why his was the worst situation. After showing him all the advantages that he was surrounded with: his peers; the location of his home so close to all the places he needed to go to; how he was doing OK, financially; all the friends who go out of their way to help him if necessary; and the Church family being so close in distance; I ended up telling him about the day my life was forever changed: Our family was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle going 60 MPH, back when I was still very young.  I lost my husband, my health, my great job. I even lost my desire to live, for every time I looked at my baby daughters, I wished I had been the one who died in the accident instead of my husband. I told that person how I overcame my fear through my faith in God. Yet his problem was SO, he could not handle it. I got tired and told him “You know what your problem is? Yourself! You don’t want to even try to look for a solution. You want to wallow in your own self pity.

Another day I saw a friend whom I had not seen in a long time. “What a surprise” I told her with a smile. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you at church.”

“I’m not going anymore.” she said. “there are too many hypocritical people there.”

I felt like saying there was space for another one, but I bit my lip. “You shouldn’t leave it. You may find what you’re looking for, there. Why don’t you go to that other one we go sometimes?

“Too many old people”

“How about the one my children go to?”

“. . .too many youngsters.”

 It was hopeless. I guess it was too late and I could not spare any more time on her.

When I had my misfortune, I found the support I needed in my church. In the people who strongly prayed for my recovery. Some came to the hospital to assist me, others visited and brought goodies. The love was felt in every way. Even those who I believed did not necessarily cared for me, became my best friends and helped out. I sought companionship in my Creator who led me to where He knew I would feel great. For it is the Church, or Communion of the Saints (relationship with the chosen ones) that Jesus established when He came to earth, which is also called The Body of Christ, to whom Paul, His servant, admonishes. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone;  just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bound of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

(Colossians 3:12-17NASB)

You will NEVER feel lonely whenever you visit a church of Christ and let yourself be loved. When announcing to the disciples of his eminent departure, Jesus said: I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world can not receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans. (John 14:16-18). And before his ascension into heaven He confirmed it: And lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Mathew 28:20)

We are not alone, ever.