Defeating Fear And Anxiety In Dark DaysSample

Not Everything You Hear Is True

If you spend any time on your phone or watching TV these days, you’re going to get a lot of information from a lot of different sources. It’s important, now more than ever, to remember that not everything you hear is true.

Proverbs 14:15 says, "The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word" (The Message).

Not everybody who speaks on the Internet, social media, TV, or radio knows what they're talking about. Not everybody who's talking about the Coronavirus crisis is worth listening to. You need to be selective!

Many people take advantage of a crisis and will have their own agenda. There will be some who try to use these uncertain days for their own political or financial advantage. They will start price gouging and using fear tactics and conspiracy theories to scare people into making rash decisions. Don’t fall for it!

The Bible says in Proverbs 14:8, "The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won't face facts" (TLB).

The Bible repeatedly says that, especially in a crisis, you should always base your decisions and actions on the facts—not faulty statistics, fads, fear, or feelings.

God has given you everything you need to be wise and prudent in a crisis. You can test everything against his Word and have the confidence that it will always steer you in the way of wisdom. As a follower of Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit to give you discernment. And, you’ve got good sense! It is a gift from God, and now is an important time to use your reason and caution.

As disciples of Jesus, we should not just be people of faith. We should be people of facts.

"Get the facts at any price, and hold on tightly to all the good sense you can get" (Proverbs 23:23 TLB).

Talk It Over

• How do you test information you find on social media before sharing it with others?
• What would you tell someone who doesn’t trust anyone during a crisis?
• Why is it important for Jesus’ disciples to be known as people of facts?

This devotional © 2020 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.