Line Upon Line

I am convinced that the stock market is driven more by fear than it is by quarterly and annual reports.

Fear of the future...fear of layoffs...fear of shutdowns...fear of downturns...the war in Iraq...the price of oil...the conflicts in Afghanistan and Liberia...the nuclear threat in Iran and North Korea.

Fear can be a driving force...the deciding factor...a dream killer...a life-ender.

There's only one way to fight fear, and that's with faith.

Now, the strength of your faith is determined by your relationship with God and your confidence in His Word.

The Apostle Paul had this kind of faith...and he shared the secret of his confidence and hope when he wrote to Timothy from the darkness of a prison cell...

"...for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to safely guard all that I have given him until the day of his return." --- 2 Timothy 1:12 (The Living Bible)

God is faithful and His promises are true. He is a help and a shield to those who trust Him in times of trouble...and in troubling times. He really does care for you!

Think about these words from the prophet Isaiah...

"The Lord has said to me in the strongest terms: "Do not think like everyone else does. Do not be afraid that some plan conceived behind closed doors will be the end of you. Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. He will keep you safe." --- Isaiah 8:11-14 (New Living Translation)

Now, doesn't that make you feel better?