The soul frets in the absence of truth. We have all been battered by the fears and doubts that roam freely in the corridors of our minds when truth does not stand guard. The Apostle Paul knew full well the importance of truth governing our mind’s interpretation of the events of our lives. In his letter to the church at Philippi, he wrote “Whatsoever things are true…think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). We are instructed to let our minds be governed by truth.
An issue that Paul addressed in Thessalonica provides an illustration of truth defusing fears and doubts. The believers there were concerned about what would happen to loved ones who had died before Christ returned. Paul wrote “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (I Thessalonians 4:13). Their ignorance gave rise to an unwarranted sorrow.
But Paul gave them the truth. Again, he writes “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:14-17). All those who believe in Christ will meet the Lord together in the air when he returns, whether we are alive at his coming or whether we “sleep in Jesus”. We shall meet him together for the “dead in Christ” shall rise first and we shall be snatched away together. In light of this promise, Paul exhorted them to “comfort one another with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:18).
Truth conquers fear and doubt and God’s word alone is truth. We should fill our minds with truth and rehearse it to ourselves with habitual regularity. Our society is dominated by falsehood and we can easily be swept away with its proclamations and practices if we do not guard our minds. The Apostle Peter wrote to his audience “gird up the loins of your mind” (I Peter 1:13). We must be anchored in the truth or we shall drift away with the tide of falsehood.
As believers in Christ and children of God, we are not overcome by the growing darkness of our present time. Satan, the father of lies, would fill our minds with the present distress. But God is greater and His truth stands. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 14:27 and 16:33). This is truth!
From the Chaplain 
I could not help but be reminded of John 1:14 and rejoice that God is full of grace and truth. Therefore, all his promises are true and can rest in that.