There is so much concern now about the economy, the results of the election, the state of our nation and the instability of the world.

On a more personal level we face so much heartache and fear. Cancer, home foreclosures, job lay-offs, sickness, children going astray, marriages failing. No matter which way we turn we see pain, loss, discouragement, depression. What is a person to do?

I’ve faced several of these issues myself…either in my own life, or my extended family, so I’m not speaking theoretically, but from a deep well of experience on many levels. Do we tuck our head into the sand and burrow in….pull the covers over our head and hope it all goes away? Self medicate with drugs or alcohol, have an affair, slip into depression, lash out in anger…these are all options the enemy of our soul would love to direct us to, convincing us there’s no other alternative.

The Bible asks where does our help come from…and it answers…it comes from the Lord. Peace isn’t a transient, fleeting emotion. Peace has nothing to do with happiness, success or prosperity. It comes from a deep well in our spirit when we’re connected to the Holy Spirit through relationship with Jesus. God’s Peace transcends our circumstances and defies our emotions.

But what can we do in a practical way to help push back the fear and depression and help bring the peace of God to the forefront when crisis or tragedy hits? When a diagnosis of cancer hits our family, or our husband loses his job?

There are many things you can do, but I’ll speak briefly to only two right now. One is praise and worship. No, we’re not thanking God FOR the crisis or pain, we’re praising Him that He’s in control and walking with us THROUGH the pain.

The second thing to do is to use the Word of God as a weapon against the enemy. Don’t get sucked into his lies that you’re a failure, that life isn’t worth living, that you’re going to be destroyed. Lift up the name of Jesus, speak the Word of God outloud, declare it in your prayers back to the Lord, claim what He’s spoken for yourself. Search out verses that speak to your situation and write them down…keep them in front of your eyes and speak them daily, calling on God to bring His word to pass in your situation.

God IS faithful and He cares for each one of His children. He hasn’t abandoned you. He’s walking through the darkness with you.