Wars and Rumors of Wars: Finding Peace in the Midst of Turbulence
By Dr. Pamela Paul, NCC, LMHC, DSc
It’s frightening to turn on the news or check in with social media and learn of the national and global chaos that is taking place in our world today. Who would have thought that in this generation, after centuries of practice, building on the foundation of our constitution, that we would be in such a state of vulnerability with our jobs, health, safety, security, and freedoms?
Many who question God may wonder, how could a loving God allow such things? And this is where our fears and doubts can lead us into discouragement and despair.
But there is an explanation for current events, and it is not in the national arena, nor in the global arena, but rather, in the highest level of divine order and providence, the spiritual realm for life and existence.
Those of us who believe in God, who we have come to know and love through our Judeo-Christian faith and His Holy Word, can stretch ourselves to see the bigger picture, from beginning to end. With this knowledge and understanding, we can better prepare ourselves for the blindsides and unexpected twists and turns of the evil and corruption that we see around us. And we can have hope.
In his 1789 inaugural address, our first president, George Washington, offered us an admonition of wisdom and prophecy with these words:
“…the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.” 1
Our founding president understood the spiritual implications for a nation that turns its back on God. It’s likely he may have been referencing one of the prophetic scriptures from Isaiah from the Holy Scriptures in his message to our nation:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light
and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” 2
We can offer many examples of how we have done just that. We have kicked God out of our lives, our schools, and our societies, embracing darkness for light, the profane for the ordained, and corruption rather than justice.
The founding principles of our nation, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, are all at stake as we reap the consequences of our decisions to remove God from our lives.
Jesus told us these days were coming, and it would be a sign of the end of the age to come:
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled. For all these things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, epidemics, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” 3
He then offers encouragement to us who fear these events, stating:
“But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” 4
Jesus is referring to a time of tribulation that will take place before He returns to the earth to gather His own, to live with him for eternity in paradise.
But before he returns, he wants all of us to know Him and be grafted into his heavenly kingdom, while here on earth. How do we know this? Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, explains it in more detail in 2 Peter 2:9:
“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”
A return to God and His ways of governance can turn this nation and our world around. An awakening to His truth, His power, His redemption, and most of all, His salvation and deliverance can be the difference between life or death.
Our redemption from the evil nature of this world is found only in Jesus Christ. A simple acceptance of His gift to us and an allegiance to His word and covenant promises can offer hope that is unprecedented in the midst of abounding fear.
Then we can rest assured and take comfort in the words of Jesus:
“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” 5
With Christ, we can look beyond the current events of wars and rumors of wars and see that He is sovereign; He is in control; And He is bringing about a greater plan of hope and redemption for the greater good of us all.
1 https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/inaugtxt.html