Freaking Out!
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 2:5 NKJV.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV.
On the same day that Putin launched Russia’s murderous invasion of Ukraine it caused some people to “freak out” across the world. I cannot imagine the horror that the people of Ukraine experienced on that day and are still experiencing. It is beyond maddening what is happening in Ukraine! So, today in one Ukrainian city because of the Russian shelling they are unable to collect the bodies from the street and dogs are tearing apart the bodies. Russians are killing civilians including women and children reducing cities to what looks like a tornado hit their homes!
In Flagler County Florida on the day that Putin invaded Ukraine a deputy observed a man run a stop sign and he was speeding 50 mph in a 30 mph zone. The man had several excuses for why he ran the stop sign and was speeding. However, he finally told the officer the truth, “I just found out that Putin said he’s going to launch a thermal nuclear war against the world and I was trying to get back to my house to find out what is going on. I’m freaking out.” (TitlePress 03.03.22; fox35orlando 03.04.22; FoxNews03.03.22.)
Personally, I do not believe that even Putin is crazy enough to fire off a nuke. Even if it was a very limited attack using a nuclear weapon it would bring a severe response. Putin is a bully and bullies love to threaten and bluster. He also said that if you impose any sanctions on Russia it would be an act of war. So far Putin has not launched any attacks on western nations for imposing sanctions. For those of us outside of Ukraine we need to view what is happening with horror, but with resoluteness that we will oppose this evil in whatever way that we can.
How do you cope with situations like this that cause you to want to “freak out?” If you know Jesus as your Savior, remember that you belong to Him. Jesus has you in His hand and the Father’s hand as we are told in John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” We are secure in Jesus, and we need to consider how He would react to situations like what we are seeing today. As the apostle Paul says we need to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), thinking as Jesus would think.
Although, most of us are unable to go to Ukraine and fight the Russian invaders we do have another option. We can fight them with prayer and at the same time experience the peace that transcends, surpasses, passeth understanding, replacing fear with a supernatural peace. “…in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
(How should we respond when we feel like freaking out?)