The Power of Faith in Times of Chaos

We welcome in 2021 in the midst of confusion and chaos. In this article I want to offer up a way out of the fear, giving you a timeless strategy to strengthen your confidence during such tumultuous times with the power of faith.

With the media insisting on their own version of reality and major societal influencers being banned from social media, most people have lost their confidence in what is called news.  This news blackout can increase anxiety and worry. 

We are in a new year and a new era; remember the rare astral occurrence over Christmas? This ushered in a new era bringing in more questions than answers and an energized start to something new.

What will it be for you, a year of worry, anxiety, and fear? Or an opportunity to bring about something wonderful?

In 2020 we were faced with a disruption to life as we knew it, everyone experienced an upset to everyday life. I believe because of this, we all learned to be more empathetic, more tuned into the feelings of others. Having lived through the lockdowns, quarantine, and the uncertainty of the virus, we could all relate to disappointment, loss, and unprecedented change.

This year, in 2021, with the blatant censorship of certain viewpoints and a never-before-seen indoctrination of power over the news, I believe this year is about developing the divine intuition called faith. As many have turned off the news and reduced their screen time, there is an increased desire to pursue eternal truths that will replace the fears that many are experiencing, in the midst of ongoing radical change.

There is power in faith. By definition, faith is the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Another way to interpret that scripture is, “faith is the assurance of what we hope for, and the certainty of what we do not see.” (Berean Study Bible)

Faith becomes the source of hope that drives out fear and overcomes confusion. Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of God. (Romans 10:17) As many turn off the news, there is an opportunity to cut through the noise, and the fear, and develop your faith.

Our country was founded on the belief that it is God that provides liberty and freedom, not the government. We are one nation, under God. The power of faith in God is an eternal belief system that bridges culture and has stood the test of time.

The Power Hour: How do you strengthen your faith when everything looks confusing?

Start your day with a power hour. Spend 30 minutes reading scriptures in the Bible that speak to faith. Do a search online for scriptures related to faith. Copy and paste them onto a word doc. Read these out loud. Ask God to strengthen your faith and guide you as you develop your personal relationship with God.

Spend 30 minutes exercising. This physical activity is a great way to release fear and tension. Think about the scriptures and imagine yourself being strengthened. Do this consistently and you will end up physically, emotionally, and spiritually strong.

What Are You Saying?

Faith comes by hearing, and this includes what comes out of your mouth. It is impossible to strengthen your faith when your own words contradict what God says about you. Faith is essential to counter our natural instinct, because of how we are hard-wired; we often perceive new experiences as a threat. This is the nature of how our brain is set up and especially true when distracted. Fear escalates under the conditions most of us find ourselves in, during this year of radical change. When our brain kicks into survival mode, things are viewed as negative and there is an instinct to fight, flee or freeze.

Faith comes by hearing, and this includes what comes out of your mouth. It is impossible to strengthen your faith when your own words contradict what God says about you.

When the survival instinct is in full gear, one’s perspective is gloomy and focused on what can go wrong. Because of how our nervous system is designed, this fearful outlook can become a habit, even when circumstances are not scary. In this stress mode one’s higher brain functions (prefrontal cortex), responsible for a broad perspective and good judgment, are hijacked and you end up with a reactive nature and tunnel vision. You may end up with a ruthless inner critic that has you thinking about what can go wrong. This can lead you into a confidence crisis and you may find yourself stalled or stuck.

This survival instinct precipitates the limited and negative thinking that fuels fear and the loss of belief in oneself. Under these conditions, hope is lost.

Breathe!

Your breath can be one way to unhook from this survival instinct. Breath slowly and deeply and release any negative thoughts that may be forcing themselves into your awareness. This will help you clear your mind and allow your deeper levels of knowing to come through, your divine intuition, the knowing that bypasses reason and comes directly from God. As you learn to slow down the fear thoughts, faith develops your instinct to align with what God says about you, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13)

We all have the choice to live in the faith lane or in a world filled with fear and “what-if.” Faith comes from God and comes directly through hearing His word. All you have to do is to open yourself to receive; this truly is an easy way to release fear, anxiety, and stress.

Make this a wonderful year, strengthen your faith, believe in yourself, study the word of God so you can align with the higher purpose for your life. Make this a completely new era for you and your future.