by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:6-8

Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken…And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up. Luke 21:26, 28a

Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. Psalm 119:41-48.

From Chinese Uighurs oppression, to Myanmar Rohingya and Syrian ethnic cleansings to systematic and orchestrated land grabbing, kidnapping and killing of students, maiming of Christians and other indigenous communities across Nigeria by Boko Haram and sponsored ethnic herdsmen, the whole world is in turmoil.

The afflicted are all looking for solutions but from the wrong sources.

Psalm 119:41-48 spells out the path to quietness amid crisis for the believer, and along three directions:

• It is the mercy and salvation of the Lord that form the believer’s response to their accusers and those who would reprove them;
• Liberty and deliverance come from diligently and hungrily seeking for the guidance that only God’s word gives (Joshua 1:8,9) and
• The believers’ delight, submission or surrendering in love to His word is the place of rest.

Yes, there may be a cause for a response to your affliction but be sure that the response is as you discovered to be the will of God. Anything different may lead you to fighting against God. Think on these things. Shalom.