At the moment, there are dark clouds overhead, and if you look around, you will notice that everyone is staring straight up at them.
And, if you’re not careful, you will start to do the same.
Yes, the sky is dark, but don’t follow everyone else, be one of the people that search’s the sky for that gap in the clouds. Sometimes the simple act of looking instils faith.
The moment that the gap appears only the ones that are looking will find it. That ray of light reminding you that behind the clouds is a clear blue sky.
It never went away, but its absence fooled everyone that it was gone.
If you look back through the last 100 years, there have been some very dark times in our history, but the darkness past and the sun shined again.
Until the sky clears the best that we can do is be the sunshine to all the people in our lives, and pray the dark clouds quickly drift from view.
As a society, we have become fixed on time. We get up at a certain time, eat at certain times, and go to bed at a certain time.
Schedules are helpful to navigate our lives.
The problem arises when we think that we can put God on a schedule when we believe that he will keep our life happy all the time. As you know, this is not the case.
After many years of plenty, there are often a few years of drought.
In biblical days the people were more spiritual, and the reason for this, in my opinion, was because they didn’t have the thousands of distractions that we have today in our modern world, that connect us to materialism.
And because of this, they were more in touch with nature and those that were highly spiritual, or as we call today, awakened. Could communicate with God.
Countless times throughout the Bible, he was not happy with his people, and on many occasions, the Prophets had to convince him to give humanity another chance.
Well, there is a good chance that at this time, God is not happy with us. And if you know your world news, you will understand why. We are cutting down the Amazon rainforest, the lungs of the planet. We are destroying our water supplies all over the world in the name of fashion. The list is endless, and depressing so I will leave it there.
This is a very fearful time in human history, so if you are afraid you are not alone, I feel that fear as well, every day. But I know that God is in control, and in his timing, the sun will shine again, and this world will be a better place.
It so tempting to search for answers, to search for that one video that tells you what you want to hear, but in that search, you will probably absorb a lot of fear.
The blind cannot lead the blind.
As much as we all want to change the world, the sad truth is, we can only change ourselves.
Be the change you wish to see. Show compassion, empathy and love everywhere you go, and maybe, just maybe, you will plant a seed in some peoples heart so they, in turn, will help others.
One of the most powerful stories of the old testament, in my opinion, is when the Israelites came to the Red Sea, and Moses held up his staff, and the waters parted.
With current events, that’s where I think we are now.
The Pharaoh, the 600 chariots, and skilled warriors are coming behind us, that could be represented as fear, uncertainty, worry and doubt. Coming from the potential threat of the virus, the global unrest, stories from the news and all peoples opinions on social media.
The parted water is the path into the future, we know all will be ok when we get to the other side, but them walls of water could fall at any time.
Faith is easy in the good times, but it’s the difficult times that test just how strong it is.
I read something on Twitter the other day, it said:
A true atheist knows that nothing ultimately matters and lives a relatively carefree life. A true believer knows that it’s all in God’s hands and lives a relatively carefree life. A lot of agnostics out there. @naval
So very true. A true believer knows that everything is part of God’s plan.
I can imagine that the best way to have crossed the Red Sea would have been to keep your focus on the other side and walk straight ahead with a fixed gaze.
For those that looked up at the walls of water and turned around from time to time to see if the Pharoah and his army was getting closer, I can imagine it was a terrifying experience, that would have made the crossing 100 times more stressful.
Fast-forwarding to today. All the people that are checking the news regularly, reading every social media post about the virus, the protests, and the looting. Im sure it’s a terrifying experience.
For them, the next 6-8months will be 100 times more stressful.
Im not here to say what is right or wrong; if you are reading this, you are old enough to make your own decisions.
But I guarantee you that if you keep your family and friends close and focus on the other side, planning and working towards the future, learning new skills and maintaining your health. You will come out of this crisis a lot stronger and wiser than you were going in.
Waking up this morning, I heard the sound of the rain on my window, and the thought came to me, did we all forget.
The simple things in life, what matters?
When did we all get so wrapped up in a system that made us desire material things? Thinking that we were not good enough unless we wore certain clothes or worked at certain jobs.
When did that happen?
Yes, what is happening at this time is scary, there is so much uncertainty, America, once the greatest country on earth seems to be coming apart at the seams.
In my lifetime, I have never seen so much fear.
But…
In all that darkness, I see hope; people are finally waking up to the fantasy life that has been feed to them their whole lives. People are finally beginning to realise that only the essentials of life matter.
What’s the use of a fancy house, flashy car, 60inch TV if you haven’t got your health. What use are material possessions if you haven’t got a spiritual connection to God to give you the faith that all will be ok.
Let’s start remembering and being thankful for all that we do have.
Start each day with gratitude.
Gratitude is the candlelight that will guide you back into the light.
When someone asks what is my secret to always moving forward, this is what I tell them…
If all else fails, try again.
When most of my friends fail, guess what they do? They call me up and talk me through how badly they feel. As a good friend, of course, I listen and give my advice if asked.
Ring ring.
The next day, another call, I answer with optimism, waiting for them to tell me how my advice has changed there life around. Or how better they feel today?
Guess what? Im sure you know what im about to write before I write it.
They tell me the same story again.
A few weeks later. Im sure you get the point.
What’s their mistake? They get lost in the disappointment, the set-back, the worry, the doubt.
We all approach life’s difficulties differently, and who am I to say what is right or wrong but all that I can do is tell you how I deal with set-backs.
For example, you hear a story that it’s not going to rain for a few months, and there will be water shortages.
That person has dealt you some fear.
If you have strong faith, you will say to yourself, that’s not going to happen, “I have faith all will be ok.” And it is.
But if your faith is weak, however, even though you have only read one story, the fear that it has created in you makes you look for another story. Next thing you know you’re searching on YouTube for ways to prepare for such an event….
And guess what?
You find 100s of videos, each recommending different ways to prepare. “Why is the mainstream media not talking about this?” You ask yourself.
Within a few weeks, you’re an expert on the subject. You have even told friends and family, who thought you were crazy in the beginning, but when it hasn’t rained for a couple of weeks, they get a little worried.
Now they too do some research and see there are hundreds of videos all over the internet talking about the same topic.
Molehill to Mountain
This is a story I just made up, but I’m sure you get the idea. One little bit of fear turned into a lot of fear, but not only that, you started to deal that fear to others.
And they, in turn, went on to deal that fear to more people.
With current events, there are 1000s of different stories like this all over the internet. People in their fearful states have created stories of what THEY think is happening. Whether they are right or wrong is not the point, the point is they are dealing fear.
And when you are getting fear from the mainstream news, fear from your friends and family, fear from social media. It will wear you down over time.
I have no way of knowing what position you are in at this time, but I know that you must keep focusing on the positives in your life. Having the faith that everything will work out for the best. A quote that sums up what I’m trying to say here is from Helen Keller, who said, “I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet”.
We have to be thankful for what we have. We have to be faithful, stay informed yes, but don’t get caught up in what some random person or persons is saying on the internet.
The truth is, no one knows what the future holds, except God.
What this crisis has highlighted for me, is just how much we have taken for granted, for far too long. Materialism had all but taken over.
Everyone wanted the latest fashion, cars, smartphones without questioning what maintaining that lifestyle is doing to the planet.
Yes, it is sad what has happened, but is it not sadder that it took an event like this to make people connect with what really matters in life — food family and shelter?
Thanks for reading. 🙂
My book Live Life Without Fear is currently on free promotion on Amazon TODAY! To download simply click on image below.
Are you feeling fearful at this time? If so, you’re not alone.
But if you allow the fearful thoughts to take control then very soon your life will be out of your control.
The what ifs in life, can weaken your faith.
“Yeah, but what if my situation gets worse, what if this happens? And then this? What then?”
What ifs can tear down the trust and knowing that our destiny naturally unfolds, meaning, that doubts will begin to creep in… the feelings that we must take matters into our own hands. Leading to us making decisions that we later regret.
It’s understandable why we struggle with this! We get lost in the anxiety, we get lost in doubts, we get lost in worry.
We play those damaging “what if” thoughts over and over. Not because they are good, but, honestly – because sometimes it feels good to feel sorry for ourselves.
And maybe we somehow feel that thinking on the “what ifs” will bring a bit more control to the chaos we are feeling inside.
But, the more that you focus on the negativity the more familiar the negative thoughts become. Resulting in you walking into your future fearful of every step.
When you allow fearful thoughts to dominate your thought life, any seeds of faith that you sow will not find roots in the shallow soil, making it very difficult to trust in God and be faithful during difficult times.
What are you choosing to focus on at the moment?
And, how is that affecting your ability to trust that all will be ok?
Now that your aware of the thoughts that you have been focusing on, what’s the next step?
Well, if the thoughts you think daily are negative thoughts, thoughts of worry, thoughts of fear, anxiety or doubt. Then you need to, instead, focus your attention on those things that are true, honourable, right, and worthy of praise. As Apostle Paul suggested.
Philippians 4:8-9 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Trust is a fundamental foundation for any healthy, loving and functional relationship. Rekindle that unshakeable trust with the Lord, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
We must make an effort daily to strike fear from our heart and submerge our mind in faith.
My book Trust Gods Plan has now been converted to an audiobook. Click the image below to hear an encouraging sample on YouTube, that will help you to feel more faithful, positive and optimistic today, and for the future.
Now is a difficult time for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you own a business, are an employee, unemployed, a student, a child or even in retirement. Current events are affecting us all.
Now more than ever, we need to have faith that everything will work out.
If you are doubtful, I completely understand, but history is a great predictor of future events.
In world war 2, millions of Jews were murdered in Germany by Hitler. We can only imagine the fear the Jewish people in Europe felt at that time. I’m sure they probably felt like there was no hope for the future.
Fast forward to 2020, and the Jewish people are the most powerful people on the planet. They are by far the richest and the most influential in every area of business, finance, music and arts.
So if you are fearful at this time, know that the future will be better, for all of us.
Humanity will learn from this. We will value our freedom so much more; we will appreciate our family and friends more, putting greater value on our health and our jobs.
As you are probably fully aware, walking into supermarkets and crowded spaces now involve wearing a face covering, so I had an idea of turning a negative into a positive. So, working with a graphic designer, I have designed a face covering to send a message of faith to others.
They are made and delivered by a company called Redbubble. All masks are sold at cost. (10% off available when you sign up the Redbubble.)
I firmly believe that we all have been given a divine destiny; a special gift that is unique to us. Happiness and fulfilment come when we use that gift to help others; which results in making this world a better place.
People work so hard to be successful, to maintain their fitness; doing the best they can to keep healthy. Faith is no different; it needs constant work and maintenance.
When you see someone that never seems to get into difficulty or never seems to be stressed, this is not by chance. This person has very little fear in his or her life.
Too often we step back in fear, with the attitude that we are not worthy of the new relationship, the new job, the new career.
I would like you to know that you are worthy; you have a light within you that you must allow to shine into the world.
If you feel held back in fear at this present moment, my book Power of Choice – Choose faith, not fear, can help you rekindle your faith. It is currently free on Amazon.
My main aim as a writer is to inspire others to fulfil their full potential, one sentence, one verse, one story, is all that it takes to open the door to the next level of your destiny.
Live Today With Faith 