“They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith” (Ps. 112:7, TPT).
About a month ago, a second lockdown began in Peru. The country is currently battered by a second wave of covid. Our city of Iquitos is suffering again, after several months’ reprieve without any new cases. Although the government had allowed church meetings to restart in November, they are now completely banned again. As a part of this current chapter, my husband Israel and sisters-in-law have been recovering from the disease. Thankfully, they are so much better at this point. However, it has taken over a month for Israel to feel almost back to normal.
Today I want to share with you that our Father God has kept my heart in so much peace through it all. I wholeheartedly believe that, even in times like these, it is entirely possible to live the way this verse describes: “They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith” (Ps. 112:7, TPT).
How? How can we rise above fear and dread when reality seems dark? Paul gives us this answer: “I have learned to be satisfied in any circumstance…. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things… I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty” (Phil. 4:22-13, TPT).
It’s His power. On our own, we cannot muster up contentment, peace, and satisfaction when surrounded by adverse circumstances. However, He has made His power available to us. If we ask, we shall receive (Matt. 7:7). Receiving His impartation of power does not mean that life becomes smooth sailing without any difficulties. On the contrary! Life on Planet Earth will have a new set of challenges to go with every new season of our lives. But this Scripture explains what His strength empowers us to do: “conquer every difficulty.”
When the difficulties come, that’s when we get alone in our prayer closets. We get better and better and better, as life goes on, at practicing the exchange this same chapter describes for us: “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ” (Phil. 4:6-7, TPT).
Here’s a very recent example from my own life. In the last couple weeks, my precious Anna has been sick too. Just the day before I wrote this, her fever reoccurred again (thankfully a low one). Humanly speaking, I could move into fear and/or dread. This feverish infection has dragged on for two whole weeks. I could give space to any number of ugly pictures of impending doom and dread in my imagination. But I didn’t. Granted, my momma emotions were troubled as my little girl told me she still was feeling significant discomfort. What did I do? I went to Jesus. I gave Him my burdens. He took them from me. He infused me with His power. And He gave me His peace.
The morning of this writing, Anna woke up feeling better. Great is His faithfulness! You know, part of our inheritance as co-heirs with Christ is to live free of dread. The deeper you get to the know the One who holds your future in His nail-scarred hands… the more your heart is held in His perfect peace.
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P.S. A few more days have gone by since I wrote this, and Anna has remained fever-free! Also, the bad cough that was afflicting her suddenly disappeared almost entirely. What a beautiful Healer is our Jesus!!
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Is God’s power available to everyone? Or do you have to be walking with Him for a certain amount of time before He will infuse you with it?
Feeding On Jesus 
We are praying for you and your family’s full recovery, as well as for all the folks there.
I believe God’s power is available to all. However, as Jesus often stressed, it is delivered to us in accordance with the measure of faith we have. Therefore, God is not some cosmic Easy Button we are to press when we are in trouble. Rather, we should be cultivating daily the relationship He makes available to us. As we grow to know Him, we will come to see him at work around us.
I think the psalmist summed this up well: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NIV)
When our delight is Him, we already have all we need!
Blessings to you Jenn,
Chuck
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Chuck, your words today have something extra special on them. You explained this in a delightfully clear and yet profound way. And you are obviously speaking right out of your own intimate journey of getting to know His heart more and more. Thank you so very much for adding so much value here!
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Also, thank you SO much for the prayers!!
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I’m praying for all of you right now, dear Jennifer. God be with you and give you His peace as He works out His plan for all of you.
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Cheryl, with all my heart, thank you for that. Sending you so much love today! 💖🤗
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So much wise advice born out of your struggles. Thanks for sharing. Praise God for His faithfulness.
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Yes! May He be forever praised! And thank you too, so much CG. Rich blessings!
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In Him and Him alone, all peace resides.
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Aaaaaaamen, my dear sister! Amen!!
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Your posts encourage me a lot. Thanks for this post.
I pray that your family will experience Him even deeper through these challenging times.
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Smiling, feeling His peace even as I read your words. Truly, my sister, thank you! 🌹💖
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Praying for a full recovery for all of your family!
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So grateful for that, Linda 💖🙏
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He infuses His power within us at the moment of creation. What we gain by walking with our Lord is the understanding that the power is there, and the ability to wield the weapon, which is another way of saying “relax, stay out of His way, and let God work through you.”
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Smiling with enjoyment of how you explained that. Thank you so much, Mike. Beautiful.
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Praying that the Lord will keep your mind and heart fixed on him through it all. And bring complete healing to all your loved ones. Other than a long let-up last summer, we’ve never really stopped having lockdowns here. Sometimes the restrictions have lessened, but we’ve never been totally free of them. In the midst of it all it’s good to know that God is in control!!
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A hearty aaaaamen to that, Sheila! I am SO grateful to know that He is! And also so grateful for your prayers 🙏🌹
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Blessings to and prayers for you all, with thanksgiving for His mighty power at work in and through you all.
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So thankful for those prayers, Dawn 🙏💕
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You got it. As Psalm 112:7, which you quoted, says, we will have no fear when we trust in the Lord. Psalm 56:4 says something very similar: “In God I trust and am not afraid.” Trusting in the Lord is the answer to fear! And I’m happy to hear your husband and daughter have recovered.
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Amen and amen, Keith! That also brings to mind, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” I’m so grateful He is ever taking our trust to deeper levels in Him. And thank you so much for that, about my hubby and daughter 🙂
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What else is there to do in times that seem only to lead to despair but turn to Jesus? It is the best answer, the only answer that leads to peace. I am so thankful to hear of the recovery of your family and pray the healing will continue. 💛
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Meeee too, thank You Abba Father, and thank you, Hamish!
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