"As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me." --- Daniel 7:15 NASB
"At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself." -- Daniel 7:28 NASB
"And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it." --- Daniel 8:27
Upon hearing about the end times, the prophet Daniel was sick of heart for many days. If it affects Daniel this way, how will it affect us?
Fear -- Love
Courage
Self-Control
To overcome anxiety and fear, we need courage, self-control, and especially love.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
We cannot allow an event to control our emotions.
We should rest in the Lord knowing that He has control over any event.
We cannot live in fear.
Fear can be conquered by keeping our eyes on Jesus, not the event.
Remember the Apostle Peter and how he walked on water
"but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink." (Matthew 14:29-30)
When we truly love God, we have no fear of man.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
--- 1 John 4:18
"In God, whose
word I praise, in God I have put my
trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?"
--Psalms
56:4
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
--2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
Being courageous is a choice.
We cannot be cowards.
In the end times, we have to rise to the occasion and find courage.
There is no other option.
The Bible links the cowardly with unbelieving, murderers,
sorcerers, and idolaters.
So in summation:
In these last days, there will be times of consternation that will, at times, overwhelm us, but the LORD will sustain us.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB
When Elisha's servant saw the enemy all around him, he was afraid. But Elisha said:
"Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
--- 2 Kings 6:16
We too can say the same: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
--- Romans 8:31
And also:
"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
--- 1 John 4:4
We need to remember that courage is a decision harnessed by self-control and love to manage and overcome fear and anxiety.
Finally, take comfort in simply believing what the LORD says, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
--- John 16:33