Dear Daisy,
Help! I’m hanging on by a thread! This world is spiraling out of control, sin is running rampant, crazy things are happening, and just when I think it can’t get any worse, a whole new wave of wickedness and blasphemy rushes in. I must say, it’s getting really hard to hold on to faith in these troubled end-times. Why is God allowing this to happen? Does He not see or care? What are followers of Jesus supposed to be doing right now? ~ Signed, how do the weary keep holding on?
Dear how do the weary keep holding on?,
So glad you reached out for answers. Let’s dive into God’s Holy Word and see what we can find to encourage you and help you in your personal research and time alone with God for Him to teach you more. Let’s begin with a couple of verses to help you catch your breath as we begin.
Hope for the weary
“28 Hast thou not known?
hast thou not heard,
that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary?
there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint;
and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”
Isaiah 40:28-29
“But they that wait upon the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Now that alone should encourage you and give you strength to hold on.
The short answer to your question before we begin: followers of Jesus are supposed to be spreading the Gospel to the lost, and looking up for His soon return. We are supposed to have oil in our lamps and watching for the Bride-groom to return to carry His Bride away (Matthew 25).
“Normal” isn’t come back!
JESUS IS!
The wholehearted followers of Jesus will not be caught unaware by His sudden return. They don’t know the day or the hour, but they won’t be surprised like a thief in the night. Why? Because He warned them about what signs to look for and how to be ready (Matthew 24 & Luke 21). Jesus literally says that if we don’t watch for Him, that we WILL be caught off guard like a thief in the night (Revelation 3:3). Scripture repeatedly indicates that He wants us watching; He is clear that he does not want us going about our daily lives ignoring His signs that the season has arrived.
Let’s dig deeper and make sure you have the tools you need to research and find the answers God has for you that will give you encouragement and hope. Grab a King James Bible and a journal notebook to keep up with all that God is going to show you (1John 2:27, Jeremiah 33:3).
Forewarned
How are we to know God’s plan for us if we don’t study His plan book that He wrote for us to follow throughout our lifetime? Did you know that God breathed the entire Holy Bible (2Timothy 3:16-17) to help us know how to handle life day to day? It is the instruction book for life that has been here all along and we didn’t know it. Most people don’t know this because they haven’t studied the entire Holy Bible; in fact, pastoral leaders typically deter church goers from reading it in its entirety. This deception of deterring us from studying the whole Holy Bible was done by design to keep us in the dark to God’s truth. Hard to believe, but it’s true; deep Bible study and Bible history research reveals this truth.
Rather than teach us to study the whole Holy Bible, creative options were developed. As an example, there are many “one-year Bible” reading plans that still only offer select pieces from the First Testament to read. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit why that is; He will tell you (Jeremiah 33:3, Luke 24:45). Remember, we are not fighting flesh and blood battles so don’t blame your “religious” leaders (Ephesians 6:12 [=666]). This has been the enemy’s plan all along to keep us away from knowing God and how much He loves us.
By studying the entire Holy Bible, you are then able to see how God breathed every word for our teaching on how to navigate through our lifetime living with His peace, love, and hope, in spite of all the challenges that come our way. God teaches us what was, what is, and what is to come; He wrote about the beginning of time to the end of time in this one Holy Bible book just for us (Isaiah 46:10). He did that so that we would know and be prepared, and so that no one could take the credit for what He does and what He told us would happen. When you don’t know the truth of God’s Holy Word, when something happens in the world, people naturally assume “Mother Nature” did it, or a people group, or world leader did it. By knowing His Word, when world events happen, you will recognize right away that it was God because He already said it would happen.
Since the Garden event, when satan convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, the devil has spent every moment making counterfeit versions of God and God’s plan, as well as, trying to divert your attention from God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and deception who came to steal, kill, and destroy you (John 10:10). He lures you in as an angel of light (2Corinthians 11:14) and makes you think that following him instead of Jesus will be joyful and peaceful; it’s all a lie. Once you are in his web it’s hard to get out; but not impossible. Those who are caught in this web can cry out to Jesus if they want out, but only while He is still knocking on your heart (Revelation 3:20). Once He calls His Bride up, it’s too late.
So here’s the deal:
- God created us,
- gave us free-will to choose Him,
- gave us all the information we would need to follow Him,
- told us how to armor up against the enemy’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10-18),
- He told us how to spread His Gospel/GoodNews, and
- He told us what signs to watch for to know it’s close to time for His trumpet to sound to call up His Bride (Matthew 24, Luke 21).
Your Heavenly Father is a planner. He is our God who loves details. We are clearly instructed in God’s Word not to add or subtract any words from His Holy Bible because His Word and His details matter. Many have disobeyed this command and created “knock-off” versions of the Holy Bible under the pre-text of making it easier to read and understand His Word. Even Jesus states during His ministry that not one word should be changed.
“For verily I say unto you,
Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,
till all be fulfilled.”
Matthew 5:18
“18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life,
and out of the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this book.”
Revelation 22:18-19
The thief in the night
In deep study of all His Holy scriptures, God makes it clear, where pastoral leaders haven’t, that Jesus will come as a thief in the night for those who aren’t His. Scripture study reveals that His Bride will see the signs and know when the time is near; they will be ready and watching (Matthew 24:22, Revelation 3:3,10-11). Only those not looking for the signs of His return will be caught off guard and left behind.
Jesus knows you are weary and having a hard time holding on as this world spirals out of control. Take courage; He is working a plan you cannot see. This is not the time to give up and let go of Jesus.
“Wait on the LORD:
be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Psalms 27:14
What are we supposed to be looking for?
JESUS! JESUS!! JESUS!!!
Our first priority: finding Jesus! Once we find Him, then cling to Him every step, no matter what each day brings. Follow Him, and be looking up, for your redemption draweth nigh!!! (Luke 21:28)
“And ye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
Jesus is waiting on each of us to choose Him. He knows the ones who will, and He already knows the ones who will remain “stiff-necked” (Exodus 32:9) and stubborn-hearted. He’s telling you in His Holy Word mentioned above that you will find Him when you search for Him with all of your heart. Half-heartedly won’t do. You can’t hold onto the world, while holding onto Jesus; scripture says you cannot serve two masters, you must choose.
“No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24
This passage applies to your life today. As an example: trying to love God while also trying to become rich and successful; loving God and at the same time running up personal financial debt. Seriously, think about it. When you are in debt, you are consumed with how to make money to get out of debt. The bank or financial institution has become your slave master to pay off your debt. You can’t focus wholeheartedly on God if you are overwhelmed at how to get out of debt. Make sense?
What signs will we see in the last days?
In God’s amazing grace, mercy and love for His wholehearted followers, He goes into great detail to prepare us for when His trumpet will sound so that we will not be caught off guard, but be ready and waiting. Observe and prepare;
“1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly,
that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,
which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them
which believe and know the truth.”
1Timothy 4:1-3
“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses,
and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses,
so do these also resist the truth:
men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further:
for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2Timothy 3:1-9
“3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
When you study these scriptures, it can literally blow your mind as you read and realize that this is exactly what is happening in our world today. Now you can hopefully see, that this is it! The last days that Jesus told us about in His Holy Word. He warned us so that we would know ahead of time and not be surprised; so we would know what is His truth, vs. the world’s lies.
Hang in there!
You don’t have much longer to wait!
Once you see God’s truth in all that is going on in and around us, it should give you hope. The hope comes through giving your life fully to Jesus and clinging to Him through these last days. There is NOTHING in this world that is worth giving up your opportunity to spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven. Choose Him today.
Has Jesus given up on you?
Many people have believed the lie that they have sinned “too much” to be forgiven by God. The only truth in that statement is that it’s a “LIE”!
Did you know that God states throughout scripture that He wrote the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10)? That means that the entire story is already written; there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9)! Nothing new or unexpected can possibly happen; The Story is already written by God. No one can change it! That includes all past, present, and future nafarious “man-made” things of this world. God has already told us these things would happen. They aren’t tricking, surprising or hiding anything that God doesn’t see and already know about!
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.”
Proverbs 15:3
That also means God planned all along to send Jesus to die for our past, present, and future sins. You are already forgiven, it’s time for you to turn to Him, humble yourself before Him, repent, and cling to Him. When you wholeheartedly give your life to Jesus, you don’t want to go back to your old ways and old sins. He makes you brand new, giving you a new heart.
“18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing;
now it shall spring forth;
shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:18-19
“26 A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh,
and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my statutes,
and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Seek the Lord and He will be found
Still unsure that you can be forgiven? Here are scriptures to encourage you that God hasn’t given up on you, you gave up on Him. It’s time to stop believing the lies of the enemy, and start believing your Creator who breathed life into you.
“29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God,
thou shalt find him,
if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
30 When thou art in tribulation,
and all these things are come upon thee,
even in the latter days,
if thou turn to the LORD thy God,
and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;)
he will not forsake thee,
neither destroy thee,
nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”
Deuteronomy 4:29-31
“6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts:
and let him return unto the LORD,
and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.”
Isaiah 55:6-7
“4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel,
Seek ye me, and ye shall live”
Amos 5:4(-6)
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him, and honour him.”
Psalms 91:15
“But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Heart check time
I pray that you have discovered new found hope in Jesus through this blog, and believe now that He sees you and loves you dearly. He wants to comfort you as you rest in His loving arms. Are you ready?
Fact is: Jesus is coming back soon to get His Bride. Let’s make sure your heart is right with Him. Don’t complicate the process for salvation. Keep it simple. Whether you have prayed this before, rededicate your life today and go “all in” with Him. It’s time for a deeper relationship with your Creator, Adonai.
Do the ABC’s and repent today.
- A: Admit that you are a sinner. (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, Ephesians 2:8-9)
- B: Believe in your heart that Jesus is the son of God and that He died for your sins and rose from the dead for you. (John 3:16-18, 1Corinthians 15:1-4)
- C: Call on Jesus and repent of your sins and turn back to Him and ask Jesus to show you the way. (Romans 10:9-13, John 14:6)
In closing,
Always ask Jesus what you should do in every situation. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. If it’s not okay with Him, He will check your spirit and you will have an uneasy feeling and doubt about going forward. Always follow Jesus; NOT your heart; our hearts are fickle and can’t be trusted. Listen to the Holy Spirit; He is trying to protect you. You have a choice to obey or ignore. Choose to obey and stay under His protection.
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.“
Proverbs 3:5
“When you know you grow!”