But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. (2 Peter 3:10–12 NLT)

After reading Peter’s description of the end times, would you be surprised to learn that many people experience extreme stress when the topic of the last days comes up? Psychologists have coined a phrase for their excessive concern about the end of the world or life as we know it: doomsday anxiety. (The Latin term for it is rapturus nuttiness—okay, maybe not.) The symptoms of this very real condition include chronic nightmares, a constant sense of fear, and obsessive “doom scrolling” through online media.

That’s not the reaction Jesus wants from His followers. He didn’t say, “When all these things begin to happen, freak out.” He said, “When all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” (Luke 21:28 NLT).

And make no mistake: These things are beginning to happen. Even secular futurologists are sounding the alarms as they see converging lines of danger and instability around the world. So, what does it all mean to us? How should we prepare for Christ’s imminent return?

James 5:7–11 offers a few ideas. The first is to be patient. James isn’t talking about a passive resignation, though. He’s talking about patience with an element of excitement—like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. It’s not something you approach with a relaxed attitude. You’re alert to the possibilities, but you realize there’s nothing you can do to speed things up. You take comfort in the fact that everything is happening according to God’s schedule. You remind yourself that your patience is tied to God’s loving grace. The reason Jesus hasn’t returned yet is that God wants more people to come to Him. He’s giving them a little more time.

The second is to stand in unity with fellow believers. People who haven’t yet come to Christ look to believers for their cues. If they see Christians at odds with one another, treating one another worse than unbelievers do, they’ll question Jesus’ impact on our lives.

The third is to endure. Be courageous and strong in the face of what this world throws at you. Trust God to work His will in your life. And always look to the life He’s promised you when this one is over.

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