Laugh at the Days to Come

Strength and dignity are her clothing; she can laugh at the days to come. -Proverbs 31:25

I know I picked a pretty popular verse, but I think that because it is so popular, we don't dissect it, or look at it any deeper than the words, we don't look at what it's actually saying, we take it at surface level. But I recently just fell in love with this verse, specifically the end... "she can laugh at the days to come." It struck me because I was like... what? She's joyful for the days to come? She's joyful as she approaches the future/unknown? I sat there smiling, because I knew that's who we are supposed to be. But when you look at the world, especially now, all you see is fear, fear of the past, present, and future. I realized there's a lack of people approaching what's to come with JOY and LAUGHTER! Even Christians struggle with this, or don't do it at all. Fear will come, but it's how we respond to it that matters. Fear comes to people in the world and what happens? It travels, it increases, and it doesn't stop. It's like an uncontrollable wildfire, destroying lives, destroying land, destroying everything. So why does it increase, why does it never stop? Because the people in the world look to the world to silence the fear, but what they quickly experience is, the world does not silence fear, it makes it scream, makes it echo. The world feeds the fire of fear, it doesn't extinguish it. The question is, when fear comes to me, will I look for comfort from the world, or will I already be comforted knowing that Christ has gone before me, He knows what's to come, He has a plan greater than I can see or even imagine, and my trust is in Him? When we fear and look to the world, we only buy more fear, but when we look to Christ in the midst of our fears, we are only given peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding. I want to approach whatever is to come with His peace, to the point that people wonder why I'm so at peace, and I'd be able to answer... Because of Christ. By myself, I am fearful, anxious, and filled with worry, but when I look to and have Christ, I'm at peace, not because of my circumstances, but because of Who I'm trusting in, Who I know so closely, and Who holds me, my circumstances, and this world in His hands, and who I'm joyfully anticipating to see either in Heaven or when He comes again. He goes before me to look ahead, stands beside me to hold my hand, and goes behind me, just in case I fall, He's there to catch me. As a Christian, man or woman, our circumstances should not determine our level of faith or trust. We should trust in Him, despite our circumstances, good or bad, trust in Him, knowing He goes before you.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.-Hebrews 13:8

If He is the same, it means His peace is the same, because He is peace, His peace never changes... why then do we experience fear? I have been at peace, but once my circumstances get worse, instead of better, I lose peace, why? It isn't God removing His peace from you, it's you putting most of your focus on the worldly things, rather than putting all of your focus on the One who is holding your circumstances. Instead of focusing on putting the fire (fear) out, you focus on the fire (fear), and it only continues to burn more. Christ's peace is the extinguisher of fear. His peace silences it, quiets it, mutes it. But all of us are pulled by the flesh to look the the world to quiet our fears and when we listen to that voice, we are left with an uncontrollable fear, that has stolen His peace from you, stopped you from trusting Him, and you've allowed the devil to put a wedge between you and Christ. So LAUGH at the days to come, approach them joyfully, walk into the unknown ready to see what is yet to come, why? Because He has gone before you and He has a plan that is unfathomable to you. Because you know He is with you. Be joyful not because of your circumstances, sometimes circumstances suck, but BE JOYFUL because you have Him, because He is on your side, be joyful because of WHO you have, and where He is taking you, as long as you have Him, you know you'll be ok, because no matter what comes, a greater plan is in store, have faith, trust in Him, rest in His peace, don't let the world steal any of that from you. The world will try to steal all of that from you, because it is led by the "god of this age" (the devil), and he only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (Jn 10:10). The world is trying to steal all that Christ has given you and Christ from you, be on your guard, be alert, be ready to defend Christ.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid. -John 14:27

He wants us to have peace ALL the time, despite our situations. And it satisfies, whereas the worlds peace is fleeting, and temporary.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.- 2 Timothy 1:7