Don't Panic

Isaiah 28:16- This is what the Sovereign Lord says:  "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

 

Ephesians 2: 19-20: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizenswith God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundationof the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

 

Trust is an important part of our walk. When we trust in Jesus, scripture tell us that we will not be stricken with panic. This scripture from Isaiah is quoted in Romans 10 as well as 1 Peter 2. Both of the new testament scripture use the word shame in place of "stricken with panic." Panic can often be the result of the idea that we may be in some sort of shame. Think back to the last time you felt the rush of panic come over you. The thoughts probably ranged from fear of death all the way to what will this look like to others if this actually happened to me? What will happen to my family, what will happen with my job, what will happen to my health? Those are all scary thoughts, but are adverse to the promise of God in these scriptures.

In the seconds after hearing some bad news or a threat against us, what is our reaction? That reaction will play an immeasurable affect on how the situation will ultimately unfold. You see, when we refute any threat, or bad news, and place it in the wounded hands of Jesus, we know with absolute certainty that it will turn out in our favor. The scripture gives us the promise right here. "We will not be stricken with panic" " We will not be put to shame." Jesus is the precious cornerstone in our sure foundation. We rely on Him, and He never disappoints. He always comes through. 

I struggled with panic and anxiety.  The moment that curse broke was when I gave up all striving, and all will to fight it myself. I had grown tired with my results. I kept failing time and again, and whenever I tried to fight it, it seemed to intensify until I broke in tears I held my hands up to the Lord and told Him straight out, Jesus, I need You, and I trust that you will take this from me, I cannot do this on my own. Each time He delivered me from a tough situation. The more I trusted in Him, the more situations from the past that I found most full of panic and fear revealed themselves to me. Instead of caving in to old habits of fear and fighting, I allowed Jesus to sort out all of the details. Each situation that came up, I was strengthened and able to confront the fear just by whispering power of Jesus is on my side. When we know that we have the support of Jesus, there is no situation we cannot overcome. Ephesians 2:19-20 tells us that we are no longer strangers but fellow citizens and God's people, a member of His household. Jesus is the chief cornerstone. We are not alone! Think about going into a court case where your life is on the line. Imagine that you have to represent yourself. The intimidation of the courtroom looms, and fear can overtake you just knowing that there are professional lawyers looking to convict you even if you're innocent. Their whole job is to put you behind bars for life. 

Now imagine Jesus walking in the courtroom by your side. He sits down next to you, and you dont have to say a word. He does it all for you. 

They call witnesses, the testimony mounts up against you, and the jury looks on with contempt at you. After hearing the testimony, the proof, the evidence is seemingly unsurmountable. The judge hears the closing arguments and the jury says, you're guilty as charged. Imagine now that sentencing comes down. The judge says, you are sentenced to life with no chance of parole. Jesus stands up, shows the jury, the judge and the opposing lawyer His wounds. He shows them the wound in His side, the holes in His hands and feet. He says to the judge, I paid the price for their lawless deeds. You see, Jesus took all of our sentencing off the table. We can never be sentenced to death, as Jesus took our punishment. The lawyer in this case is the enemy. He knows all of the laws, he knows all the evidence of what we have done wrong, and he gets so close to convicting all of us, yet Jesus. Jesus took all sentencing of our sins off the table. Through Him, the judge says, you are free to go. Nothing gets the enemy more enraged than being reminded that Jesus defeated him. The only way we can truly do that, is to trust that Jesus will not allow us to be put to shame, He will not allow us to be stricken with panic. Trust in Jesus, and whatever you do, don't panic.