A favorite sci-fi story is “The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy,” originally a BBC radio broadcast. On the cover of the book featured in the story are the words “Don’t Panic.”  Of course the entire story is filled with scenes in which panicking would be the natural response, and the comedy is in how the characters deal with the absurd adventures.

If I were to write a book about 2020, I’d put those same words on the cover - “Don’t Panic.” I certainly didn’t foresee the events that have transpired, nor could possibly imagine a year ago all of what has happened. I did not know, but God did. And the reason for not panicking is not some science fiction comedy but the reality that we serve a God that is in control. 

Psalms 60:12 declares, “Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” With the same confidence that David sang this song, we can sing it today. Our confidence is in the mighty God we serve, and we fear no enemy. We do not fear the Covid virus, nor the media’s influence, nor the political partisan division, nor the requirements of state (whether or not we agree with them), nor the economy, nor the future. 

Romans 8:35-39 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Our victory is not determined by the state, the economy, the media, or anything that can or will happen. Our victory is ensured by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can endure all things because He already has overcome them. John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Join me in being CHEERFUL and GRATEFUL that we have the peace of Christ in us, and through Him we have overcome every threat in this world!