So, here I am, oh-so-happily wrapping up reading Revelations. (Please see previous blog where I totally share my total AVOIDANCE of this book — and the humbling “journey” of learning how God had soooo much to teach me through it — surprise surprise.) 🙂

Yup, I sit again, having just closed the final chapter of the final book of the Bible saying, “Whoa! I did not expect to read that today!” (And I begin to see, again, what happens when you “avoid” doing what God says is good for you — and then, when you FINALLY do it?? You find out “you didn’t even know what you did.” LOL! :):)

I started up at the beginning of Chapter 18 and soon hit the section of verses 9-19, and you know what it is all about? Merchants all over the Earth in a total economic crash!!!!!

What?!

Does THAT ever strike close to my heart. (And anyone else’s out there???)

Yup, there are 100’s of 1000’s of people all over the world, right now, that are in this very state of being where “no one buys their cargos anymore” (verse 11), “all their luxury and splendor has vanished” (verse 14b), “the merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from them… are terrified at her [the city’s] torment” (verse 15) and, “in one hour, such great wealth has been brought to ruin” (verse 17).

And doesn’t it just feel that it happened just like that??? Like, in one “moment,” it really did start to all “go downhill,” leaving the stock market crashing like dominos to land in a huge, worldwide, shattered and scattered pile of… PANIC.

And I get it, just like the “merchants of the earth” in Revelations, the “workers” on the Earth now are seeing all their schedules, stability and sources of income dissolved, discarded, destroyed, and dried up. It is SUPER SCARY.

So, just WHAT is a God-Girl to do in all this??? (And P.S. I too have two small businesses that are pretty much at a full stop, so I am completely in the same economic boat with everyone else, and I know it is not good.)

But even though I can totally relate with the major realities of those “Revelation Merchants,” I kept on reading… right there to… a whack of REJOICING!!!

Say what?!

Yeah, Revelations moves onto a ton of “Rejoicing in God” for His UNCHANGING TRUTHS! Yup, all of a sudden, it is talking all about His unchanging and unending salvation, glory, power, trueness, justice, righteousness. And how HE is the “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords,” NO MATTER WHAT is happening in the world around.

But, whoa, THAT is easy to READ, but can we DO that in REAL-LIFE times like these??? Can we really CHOOSE to TRUST in words written in black and white… over the blare of the Media, so full of “Facts and Stats” on the upcoming AND unending DOOM??

Hmmm, I think I get it on HOW TO get through it. I realized I have to CHOOSE where to get my “NEWS” and decide where my “hurting heart” goes for “true healing.” It is good to be INFORMED, it is good to be FORWARDED, but I can’t change what the world is going through…

I can’t control where COVID-19 will land…

I can’t “PLAN” on what will happen to my future family, finances and functions.

BUT I can choose to “challenge” the panic that does pop up with some TRUTHS greater than what I hear on the news, on the internet or even from the neighbors… and that IS based on those black and white words, read first thing in the day, in the quiet of the morning — the ONE “FACT and NEWS SOURCE” that will last forever… and the only one to truly calm my heart.

And so, I am here to CHOOSE to SAY, “He does reign, that HE is right” — and I will CHOOSE to fight COVID-19 in the best way I can, by choosing to BUILD a BELIEF that God has a PLAN in all this: one that’s bigger, better, and bolder than I could ever imagine.

Yes, the fact is COVID-19 is scary…

Yes, the fact is it is here to stay for a while…

Yes, the fact is the whole world is feeling totally unstable.

BUT a BIGGER fact is that a BOLDER God is in TOTAL CONTROL, and THAT is the FACT that I will CHOOSE to TRUST and BELIEVE in most… TODAY.

What will you CHOOSE for your best “NEWS”??? The CHOICE is up to YOU.

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be a Beautiful Woman of GOD!! 

Carol 

P.S. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the next blog building off this one: “Obstacles or Opportunities.” Can’t wait to chat again next week — HONESTLY!!!