Preparing to close out the old year and start a new one can be scary for some of us. Seeing what’s going on in the world in these end times can be frightening if we have the wrong perspective. It’s true that we live in dangerous times; however, we have supernatural protection to keep us safe from harm. Trusting in this allows us to be brave and courageous as we move forward.

Bravery is defined as having mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. We don’t have that kind of strength on our own; it only comes from God. Meditating on the safety and security He provides moves us out of fear into joy. “…For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). This is something the world doesn’t have.

Without God, the thought of entering into a chaotic future would be too much to handle; the threats from our external environment would be intimidating and disheartening. However, He has promised His children good things, and nothing around us is capable of derailing those promises. All we need to do is to stay strong. “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NLT). God said this to Joshua, and He’s saying the same thing to us today.

There will be tough times ahead, but we don’t have to be afraid. The evil in the world doesn’t have the power to overwhelm us when we ally ourselves with God. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). When the devil starts whispering his lies and trying to instill fear in us, we can be confident that we’re secure, no matter what.

The spiritual battle we’ve been engaged in all year long will intensify in the future, and our focus will be critical as we look ahead to what’s next. Focusing on the natural allows Satan to distract us from the truth. By comparison, focusing on God’s promises of protection strengthens us against enemy attacks and ambushes. “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease…Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you” (Psalm 91:2, 3, 5-7, NLT). Believing these promises gives us courage. 

There will always be enemies who oppose us, but they’re no match for God’s strength and power. God kept David safe, despite the perils around him and Saul’s attempts to kill him. “…The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies” (2 Samuel 22:2-4, NLT). The same God who delivered David will do the same for us. We have that same level of protection