With all the trouble brewing in the world, it’s normal to fear the future. Nobody can expect their future to be filled only with sunshine and peace. In fact, the truth is that everyone will have many trials and tribulations in their future, and then they’ll die. But don’t despair, you can overcome your fear of the future. There is hope—not in this decaying world system, but in God.
This short article will teach you how to overcome your fear of the future, bravely. We must replace our fears with godly knowledge and solid hope.
Reasons to Fear
Most would agree that 21st-century civilization seems to be unraveling.
- Just within the last decade, powerful globalist forces intentionally destabilized many nations through warfare (i.e., Ukraine, Egypt, Libya, and Syria) and others are now being radically transformed through a Muslim immigration invasion (i.e., France, Germany, Sweden, and Great Britain.)
- When I just typed “economic collapse mathematical certainty” into the YouTube search window, there were 1,630 videos on the topic. The USA is $20 trillion dollars in debt, with many ‘experts’ expecting a cataclysmic, worldwide economic depression to hit in 2017/2018.
- We all enjoy the amazing food distribution system that brings us year-round fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruit from countries around the world. But Western nations have now become totally dependent on this system. As a result, very few people have gardens or store emergency food, so millions are unprepared and they’ll die if any long-term disaster (i.e., economic downturn, world war, electric grid down, Yellowstone eruption, etc.) disrupts the restocking of our grocery store shelves every 3 days.
Twenty-first-century life is becoming more and more chaotic and dangerous, and there’s nothing visible on the horizon that provides an expectation that our future will be any better than today.
Overcoming Your Fear of the Future: what are you afraid of?
Fear of Personal Death
Death. While we don’t like to think about it or discuss it, please take a moment to acknowledge the reality that your body is eventually going to die. Whether you’re unexpectedly killed in a car accident tomorrow, or peacefully and painlessly go to sleep for the last time when you’re 110 years old, the terminal result is the same. Our days are numbered and (unless a miracle happens) we’re all going to die.
Accepting your individual mortality usually doesn’t cause us concern, as long as you believe your death isn’t imminent.
Fear of Society’s Death
In contrast, however, the fears of global depression, famines, World War III, and the Antichrist stamping everyone with 666 can fill us with dread, even if these events never actually happen within our lifetime.
Here are some possible reasons why we fear society’s demise more than our own death:
- The nightly news makes it seem like catastrophic events could be imminent, making us feel like society’s time is running out.
- We have no control over world events, so we feel helpless.
- We’re afraid for the welfare of our loved ones, especially our children and grandchildren.
- This is the world system of government, economy, and religion that we know. We can’t imagine how things will be different in the next world system that replaces it.
Fear of the ‘End of the World’
When we feel like world events could be fulfilling prophecies in the Book of Revelation, it’s natural to fear TEOTWAWKI–the end of the world as we know it. The imminent fear of society’s end often creates an emotional burden of anxiety, dread, and stress.
Today, even small children sense the trouble in our world. Recently, a young mother in Virginia wrote this:
“I feel like I am so behind on my spiritual journey. How is it that I have gotten to this point in my life and am just now starting to scratch the surface of all there is to know and understand? The part of Revelation that always makes me uneasy is not knowing and not understanding God’s timing. The world always looks like it is falling apart when you watch the news. But when I turn off the TV and look at the world directly in front of me it all seems so beautiful still.
My suggestion for a topic I’d like to know more about is, “what now?” What can I do for my family and for my soul to prepare us for eternity and for the time when Jesus returns. My 4-year-old daughter asked me just last week what it would be like when Jesus came back – I had to tell her that I wasn’t sure, but I envisioned it like seeing your best friend that you’ve missed for a very long time. She cried and said that it scared her still… I told her honestly that it made me feel the same way! But that we’ll have to be brave. (Bravery is something she and I already talk about a lot, so it felt like a comforting thought to us).”
Overcoming Your Fear of the Future: The Remedy for Fear
In 1974, while I was sitting alone in prayer on my bed, I had a supernatural visitation from the Holy Spirit in which God revealed His love to me. It was like trying to drink an ocean of pure love. The experience was so physically overpowering that I couldn’t stand it. As awesomely pleasant as it was, I had to ask God to lessen it or I believe I would have physically died.
Since then, whenever I’m tempted to doubt God’s existence, or whether He is concerned with a situation, I remind myself of that experience and the revelation of God’s love is a solid anchor to my faith.
God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:16-19)
Ask God to give you a revelation of His love. It will drive out your fears.
How Can a Loving God…?
In response to the statement “God is love” people will sincerely ask, “But how can a loving God tolerate all the suffering in the world,” or something similar.
For a detailed answer, including the purpose and plan of God through the eons of creation, please read my free eBook The Overcomers’ Treasure Map.
Overcoming Your Fear of the Future: How to Prepare for the End-time
So, how can we prepare for the end time, and be brave as we face it?
Whether we’re actually in the apocalyptic end time or not, troubles are certainly coming in our future. The important thing is that our fears are real, and justified. How can we prepare ourselves, physically and spiritually?
Physical Preparation
Possessing emergency plans, supplies, and skills helps defeat fear. This kind of preparation can help you survive many natural or man-made disasters.
For example, everyone would be wise to store some dried rice and beans, plant a small vegetable garden, and have a water filter to purify drinking water.
Here are a few general resources to guide your physical preparations:
Bravery
General George Patton said this about bravery,
“If we take the generally accepted definition of bravery as a quality which knows no fear, I have never seen a brave man. All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are, the more they are frightened.”
John Wayne said,
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
Corey Ten Boom was a young Christian girl in Holland in World War II. Her family believed it was their Christian duty to hide Jews in their attic. Decades later, after the entire family had suffered for this act in a Nazi concentration camp, she shared this story about her fear.
One day, at the train station, I voiced my concern to my father about whether I would be brave enough to suffer for Jesus if the Germans arrested us.
My father asked me, “When you go on a train journey, when do you get your ticket?” I answered, “Papa, you always hold onto my ticket until just before I go onto the train. Then you give it to me.” He said, “Yes, and God will give you the courage you need when you need it.”
So, bravery isn’t the absence of fear. Rather, it’s doing your duty in spite of your fear, and God will give you the strength when you need it.
Spiritual Preparation
What is your duty? Your main duty in this life, living under the dominion of the current, anti-God world system, is simply to follow God wholeheartedly and trust Him with the safe-keeping of your soul.
- We follow God by walking in the ‘Way of the Lord,’ following truth, goodness, and holiness.
- Follow truth by aligning yourself with reality. Reality is revealed in nature, the Bible, and the Spirit of God.
- Follow goodness by applying the golden rule toward everyone, even your enemies. Jesus told us to overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
- The Spirit of God in each born-again believer is holy, and each disciple’s spirit is being uniquely transformed into holiness, daily, by the renewing of his mind. (Romans 12:2)
- Like Jesus, we may suffer for doing God’s will in this world, but if we’re faithful to Him in this life we’ll share God’s glory in His eternal kingdom.
- See my spiritual warfare page for the rationale behind this statement.
- Trust that God loves you infinitely, and nothing can separate us from God’s love. No one can snatch us out of His hand. (John 10:28)
A pregnant woman may wonder how she’ll bear the coming painful ordeal of birthing her child, but when the time comes and her contractions begin she naturally does what she has to do in spite of the pain. There is no ‘opting out’ of the experience. Then, as soon as her child is born, she forgets the pain because of the joy she feels. It will be the same for born-again Christians in the end time.
We can be brave and overcome our fears by (1) trusting in God’s love, and (2) having an eternal perspective.
Overcoming Your Fear of the Future: Decide Now Which Group You Will Be Judged With
Everyone will eventually die and face God’s judgment; but in the resurrections to come, the decisions you make in this life will determine which of the following three groups you’ll be judged with:
1. Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
Definition: A disciple is an active follower of the living, resurrected Messiah. Disciples are 100% committed to eradicating sin from their lives and being transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2). They’re students of God’s word, and growing daily through prayer and spiritual relationship to God.
Today, disciples have nothing to fear from death. Their bodies will be resurrected in the first resurrection. They’ll rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years before the general resurrection. They’ll inherit an eternal reward of life and glory in God’s presence.
During the coming ‘great tribulation’ living disciples of the Messiah will be ‘sealed’ by God and glorified as God’s manifested sons and daughters. To silence their godly testimony, Satan and the Antichrist may persecute and kill them. As a result, they’ll earn the martyr’s crown, to be worn proudly for all eternity. They’ll also sing a new song on Mount Zion with the Lamb, a song that no one else will be able to sing. Finally, they’ll earn the 8 promises to the overcomers in the Book of Revelation.
2. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ
Definition: A believer has asked God to forgive his sins by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, but he’s less than 100% committed to following God daily or eradicating sin from his life.
Believers who die (today, or in the great tribulation) will regret not following the Lord 100% as a disciple. Their bodies will be resurrected in the general resurrection (after the 1000-year millennium) along with unbelievers. Their faith will save them and they’ll receive rewards based on their godly works. For those without godly works, they’ll be saved ‘as through fire:’
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. (1 Cor 3:12-15)
3. Unbelievers
The Devil would like you to believe that living your earthly life now is more important than the state of your eternal spirit, and as long as you’re a ‘good person’ believing in Jesus isn’t required.
- The Devil is a liar. Everyone who follows him dies, and then their spirit will suffer burning torment in hell.
- The truth is that the state of your immortal spirit is infinitely more important than your temporary, physical body. Everyone’s body will die in a few years, but your spirit never dies. God’s desire (for everyone) is for our spirits to become holy, like Jesus. We become holy by choosing to walk in ‘the way of the Lord’ during our earthly life.
Judgment
If you reject Jesus as your Savior, He will not be able to receive you into heaven when your dead body is resurrected in the general resurrection. You will stand naked before God, without the free gift of forgiveness which is available now through faith in Jesus. Almighty God will judge you, pronouncing your sentence based on your unbelief and the sin you preferred above salvation.
Someone will ask, “What about those unbelievers who never heard the gospel?” God is love, and He is also good and just. His judgment will be fair and applicable to each person. Nobody, not even Satan, will challenge the fairness of God’s decisions at the great white throne judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)
Hell
You’ll then be cast into a place of burning torment to serve 100% of your long sentence. I believe the purpose of hell is redemptive, to burn away the sinfulness from each unbeliever’s evil spirit until you’re ready to repent and ask God for forgiveness. For some, this will take thousands of years; for others, less, depending on the hardness of your heart.
Based on Colossians 1:20 (and other verses) everyone will eventually receive God’s forgiveness and be released from this place of burning torment.
“and through Jesus to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:20)
Eventually, in the ages to come, God’s plan is for everyone who ever lived to dwell in His presence in heaven, after sincerely bowing their knee to Jesus Christ and confessing that He is the only Savior and Lord.
Therefore, if you’re an unbeliever you’d be wise to repent of your sins and dedicate your life to following Jesus today. Don’t wait another day—you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Overcoming Your Fear of the Future: Conclusion
We can’t avoid the birthing process of the coming new age, but you can be eternally blessed by deciding to follow God wholeheartedly and trusting Him with the safe-keeping of your soul.
God’s love drives out fear. You can be brave and overcome your fear of the future by (1) trusting in God’s love, and (2) having an eternal perspective.
In this short life, your most important decision is whether you’ll choose to be a disciple, a believer, or an unbeliever. Disciples are the only ones who have nothing to fear in their future.