DISTRESS - ANGUISH - TURMOIL

 

Write From My Heart

May 16, 2021

 

(KJV) DISTRESS anxiety; grief

(NIV) ANGUISH great mental or physical pain

(NLT) TURMOIL confusion; great emotional disturbance

 

Luke 21:25-28 (NIV) There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

 

Ponder this: Often I like to compare three translations to gain a better understanding of a particular passage of Scripture. Today, dependent upon which translation you are reading, three words stand out—distress, anguish, and turmoil. Each word carries a slightly different meaning, but all three words have a common thread. One thing is abundantly clear; as we draw closer and closer to the return of Christ all three words indicate people—nations—will cry out in the emotional stress of those times. It is quite easy to see the evidence of emotional stress on people even in our current times. Financial concerns, health concerns, politics, and battling the woke culture are all aggravating factors leading to emotional stress. While Christians may not be immune to emotional stress, we have a wonderful promise to help us endure stressful times:

 

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.