Psalm 112:7. "[The righteous man] is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord."

When I read this, I decided to use it to test myself. We have been getting an awful lot of evil tidings lately, and I truly believe there are more to come. How have I been reacting to these tidings? Have I been afraid? Sometimes, yes. Initially, I was slightly afraid of COVID, but it actually was when I realized how much we were being lied to that I truly saw the abyss of fear open up before me, and came close to falling in. I had every confidence that humanity, with the help of God, could fight a naturally occurring virus, as we were told COVID was. But when I realized how much we were being lied to about even the origin of the virus; saw how people who questioned the lies were being treated; and came to understand how much those who were lying had to protect those lies at all costs, that was when true fear set in. I thought if the "powers that be" were willing to go that far to achieve whatever their ultimate goal is, it really seems that there is nothing they won't do. People do not matter to them, nations' integrity and constitutions do not matter to them, apparently nothing matters except their twisted will and, now, their own necks, because they have stuck them out too far. As I've said before, this is the spirit of the Antichrist.

Perversely, though, it was realizing this that made me not fall into the abyss of fear, but rather begin to feel empowered. God has prepared us for this. He warned us about this battle, and He will give us all the grace we need to stand against our fear and the enemy, an enemy who has already been defeated by Jesus and is now in its death throes. The only reason I have this peace is because of my faith, without it I would either see the problem but not understand how to resist it and feel deathly afraid and hopeless, or I would give in to the seemingly overwhelming power of those manipulating us, deadening my soul and dooming myself to enslavement.

I must admit, sometimes I feel the pangs of fear again. Things seem to be keep getting worse in the societal and political spheres and it seems a lot of suffering is still to come. But then I remember to trust the Lord, and I find the peace again. So I thank God every day for my faith. It alone is what keeps my heart firm, not afraid of evil tidings.