Watch the news, read the internet or just observe casually from the sidelines. Our country, our world, people are in trouble. We are all walking on thin ice just by existing in these fragile times. We are vulnerable whether we realize it or not.

Yes, I know there’s nothing new under the sun, but I truly believe we are living in what is called the “end times.” I don’t pretend to know whether that means there are 10 thousand or 10 years left, but the ache in my soul to spiritually and physically prepare for the perilous days ahead has become a source of anxiety for me lately to the point that one day the Holy Spirit advised me to “lighten up”.

So, I laid off the news and prophecy time lines for a while, bought a couple of furry loveable guinea pigs to cuddle, downloaded some uplifting music and went about the joyful business of just living and loving life.

You see, the truth is, we can never figure out what the next year, month, or even the next minute holds because we are NOT in control (much as we like to appear so.) The control freak in me has to continually give up those emotional reigns to her God daily. I have to repeatedly remind myself that my divine Savior, the Creator of this world, has “got this” and not one ounce of my furious white knuckled worrying or fretting can change the inevitable.

A friend of mine posted an earthquake warning she read from another site. Oh, boy…gee thanks!  Basically, in so many words, it stated that there was “good reason” to be forewarned that the “big one”  might be happening to our region in the next few days apparently due to the occurrence of an enormous sinkhole in Dover, Ohio. T h e. N e x t. F e w. D a y s! Seriously? Ugh. I added that to my list of junk to mull over in my head. I even researched the New Madrid fault line on the internet, YouTube to be exact (such a miserable mistake)… and  then the gates opened…and in rushed that peace-robbing anxiety. Seriously, where do you hide or protect yourself from an earthquake of such great magnitude?

The sky is falling, the sky is falling, run for your lives….err, I mean the ground is crumbling…..(I know…not so funny)

Apparently we live in the “red zone” and if the “big one” happens it would be so devastating that it would negatively affect the country and perhaps even rearrange the geography of our beloved country. I allowed this horrible feeling of helplessness to entertain my thoughts for about half a day and then I just decided that although I could prepare my family by storing up the water, food, etc. (like I have been for the past few months), that nothing I did would help if the monster 9.0 shook our grounds. Might as well consider my fate determined. Me, my family and my fellow “red zone” neighbor’s are living on potentially very so-called, shaky ground.

Soooooo……

I turned my anxiety over to God. Ahhh, the freedom of laying our burdens down….there are  no words to describe the peace! I have to exercise this daily – laying down my burdens, giving it over to Him.

Regardless of what may lie ahead of us: the crumbling society we are living in, the fiscal cliff, the loss of our basic American freedoms, devastating earthquakes, sweeping destructive tornadoes, rising unemployment rates, global warning, drought, pandemic, etc. we are in the ever loving arms of an all knowing and merciful God. Nothing takes Him by surprise!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I will still be watching the evening news occasionally and keeping my eyes open and aware of our changing world. I refuse to bury my head in the sand. I believe that would be just as harmful as obsessing over the “state of the world.” But, I will go about living and enjoying life until I die. Meanwhile I’m seeking a closer relationship with the greatest giver of comfort and peace –  my precious, loving all powerful God. I will not take this life for granted nor will I waste my precious present moments with time wasting worry… for what we have today, whether it be freedom, physical comforts, or health, may not be ours tomorrow.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.(Psalm 4:8)

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.(Isaiah 54:10)

If you don’t have this peace I have I invite you to get to know Jesus. He is the way, the truth, our way to God. He offers forgiveness and healing. He offers eternal life after this one.♥ (click here)