Persecution Will Come
"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my names's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household."
Have No Fear
"So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 10:16-33 ESV
Some scripture the Holy Spirit revealed to me after I asked God to show me what he needed me to see before I opened up to a random page in the Bible and landed here, which really helped a lot and reminded me of God's sovereignty.
Being frank, I struggle with social anxiety a lot, especially when it comes to in-person interactions. Throughout the past year God has helped me a lot with my anxiety, chipping away at it bit as bit as I slowly grew more confident in Him and allowed myself to trust Him even in situations that made me uncomfortable.
Because of the strength God has given me I've been able to start this account which is two months away from turning a year old now. I've also grown more confident in sharing the gospel with my coworkers and friends when I find the opportunity to. Though I'm far from being as bold as Paul and many other sisters and brothers in Christ I see online today.
God has brought me this far through my social anxiety, and I'll trust that he'll continue to bring me through it until I'm unrecognizable compared to the anxiety riddled person I once was.
Prayers for courage and boldness would be greatly appreciated!
God bless you and have a wonderful day!
