2024 will be a year of turmoil

On the morning of December 26, 2023 I asked the Lord what 2024 would be like. “Turmoil,” is all he said.

I started thinking about the meaning of that word, turmoil. What came to mind were “confusion, conflict, arguments, fights, disagreements, doubt, fear, agitation, worry, anxiety, even panic.”

Looking it up online, I found the following dictionary definitions:

• Google: A state of confusion, uncertainty, or disorder.
• Merriam-Webster Dictionary: A state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion. Synonyms: disquiet, ferment, fermentation, restiveness, restlessness, uneasiness, unquietness, unrest.
• Collins Online Dictionary: In American English, a state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquiet; mental turmoil caused by difficult decisions. Synonyms: turbulence, disorder, uproar.
• Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English: A state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquiet. Synonyms: disturbance, turbulence, chaos, disorder, unrest, pandemonium, hubbub, commotion, tumult, hullabaloo, ado, uproar, bustle, ruckus, furor, agitation, trouble.
• Cambridge Dictionary: A state of confusion, uncertainty, or disorder. No synonyms were listed.
• Dictionary.com: A state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquiet. Synonyms: anxiety, confusion, disturbance, riot, strife, trouble, tumult, turbulence, unrest, violence.

Will this turmoil be spiritual, natural, or both?

Will it be political? (2024 is an election year, after all.) Governmental? Economic? Social? Disaster related? It could be all of those. I guess we’ll see.

What then should believers do about it?

• “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thess. 5:16-18 KJV)
• “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (patience).” (James 1:2-3 NASB)
• “Let endurance (patience) have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4 NASB)
• “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil 4:6 NIV)
• “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6 NIV)
• “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” (John 14:27-a)
• “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27-b)
• “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace.” (John 16:33-a)
• “In the world you shall have tribulation,” (John 16:33-b) (It doesn’t say you might have.)
• “But take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33-c)

Notice something about those verses? The choice is ours.

We have control over our responses to turmoil. Refuse to be anxious. Refuse to be troubled or afraid. Pray, give thanks and take courage. Consider it all joy! Let the one who saves us, lives in us, leads and directs us, provide the power in us to do it. We’re going to need it in 2024.

Choose to rejoice.