Encountering God in Times of Chaos and Anxiety
by Sue Nesbit
Encounter in Australia
At the beginning of this year I spent some time with my family in Canberra, Australia. Fires were raging out of control in many parts of Australia, ravaging the land, destroying homes, and bringing an increase of death. High temperatures increased the intensity of the fires. Canberra was shrouded in smoke. Normally a pollution level of 200 is considered hazardous. The pollution levels were at 7000! Many attractions were closed. People were on high alert, ready to evacuate if necessary. As fear increased, people bought extra food, withdrew cash and filled their cars with petrol. I experienced the intensity of Australia’s distress, grief, fragility and vulnerability as everything seemed to unravel. It shook me to the core.
I had to push through the heaviness in the atmosphere just to be able to pray. As I prayed I experienced God weeping over the nation. His love for Australia washed over me. In that moment I saw that distresses and challenges were coming to the nations of the earth. Everything that could be shaken would be shaken (Hebrews 12:25-27). Next, His supernatural peace, security and strength enveloped me. It was a powerful forecast, declaring His intention. He would strengthen His people and enable them to know Him deeply, withstand evil, and do great exploits (Daniel 11:32, Ephesians 6:10-20).
Encounter as a New Christian
As a brand new Christian I attended a small group. We were watching a series of teachings on the end times. The series covered subjects such as the mark of the beast and other horrific predictions. I was fearful and tormented by the information. One night in the midst of the teaching the speaker said, “Build your life on Jesus Christ.” It was as if God Himself had stepped out of the TV screen and spoken directly to me. It was a powerful and significant moment in my life. It gave me direction. However, I still had many fears: What would I do? What would happen to my family? Would I be strong in faith to stand for Jesus or would I betray Him?
God led me to the story of Elijah when he was in the midst of a famine. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook (1 Kings 17:2-6).
Elijah was sustained, while Israel went hungry. Sometimes God’s word is fulfilled through people. In this instance it was not. Elijah was totally alone. He had to depend on God and His word with no possibility of it being fulfilled through people. Elijah’s example created a hunger within me to build my life on Jesus, to hear His voice, and to expect miracles.
Through both of these encounters God wrote powerful lessons on my heart. We live in uncertain times, but know this: we serve a committed, faithful, miracle working God. His heart is for the nations. He is preparing His people for the times and has a victory plan for each and every one of us.
© 2020 Sue Nesbit.
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