State of Emergency
Philippians 4:6-7
New Revised Standard Version
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I sat on the phone listening to a beautiful young woman describe her burdens. Her heart palpitated like roaring waves; as she tried to dispel her anxiety and extinguish the sense of guilt & shame that consumes her mind. Indeed, she is a faithful member of the Christian community, where she learned to pray to Jesus to be anxious for nothing. Internal conflict developed within the condors of her heart, body and soul. Debilitating thoughts raged in her mind leaving her to feel desperate.
What is anxiety?
Mayo Clinic describes anxiety as “Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and feeling tired may occur.
Anxiety creates tension in our lives, and we all face the challenges of life in grim times. The world awoke to the news that 25-year-old Ian Alexander Jr., the only child of Oscar-winning actress Regina King, died of an apparent suicide. Afterwards, 30-year-old Miss America Chesi Kryst plunged to death by suicide from a high rise in New York City. On May 31, 2022, Master P addressed mental illness and substance abuse after acknowledging the death of his 29-year-old daughter Tytyana Miller.
I received a request from a friend to pray about a suicidal nephew. The family is scrambling to keep a close watch on his actions and seeking solutions to combat another attempt by him to end his life.
Violence continues to plague inner-city communities. Residents experience anxiety and fear as we heard about another young black man being gunned down by 24 shots — only two years after losing his first cousin due to the same act of gun violence.
The coronavirus and multiple variants have paralyzed hope and induced mental trauma. For example, School Districts face lawsuits from families who believe the COVID crisis could jeopardize their children’s lives, while teachers and administrators leave the profession for a less stressful environment. According to the National Education Association (NEA) “Exhausted and exasperated, classroom teachers and other school staff are under an unprecedented level of strain, made worse by recent dire staff shortages that have plagued school systems across the country.”
Mass Shootings
On May 24, 2022, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos fatally shot nineteen students, two teachers, wounded seventeen other people and killed himself at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Earlier in the day, he shot his grandmother in the forehead at home. Salvador Ramos’ mass shooting was the third-deadliest school shooting in the United States, after the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007 and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012,[6] and the deadliest in Texas.
John 10:10
King James Version
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly
We must change the narrative and expose the enemy that negatively impacts our lives. The bible informs its readers that there is a thief that enters our lives to steal, kill and destroy each of us. To avoid the enemy’s mission, we must become more vigilant in our lives. Jesus Christ comes that we all might have life more abundantly. Make the decision to surrender your lives into the care of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:3-5
New International Version
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Call to Action:
Change the narrative in your life: Learn of Jesus Christ
Call for help if you or someone you know is suicidal: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free support at 1-800-273-8255.
Seek professional help for mental illness, anxiety, drug use and abuse
You are not alone; we are here to help you info@ijnministries.com.
