What causes panic? - Panic - TouchPoints

Acts 4:25-26You spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, “Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.”

Ephesians 4:17With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.

Living life without God will eventually cause panic because we will not be able to see a purpose in our problems or a future beyond this life. If we insist on being in control, life will confront us with situations that challenge our control. When we believe that God is in control of our life, we can be confident he can hold it together. Then when one or two pieces fall out of place, we will not be overwhelmed with a sense that our life is falling apart.

Isaiah 24:1, 3-4, 10-12The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. . . . The city writhes in chaos; every home is locked to keep out intruders. Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine. Joy has turned to gloom. Gladness has been banished from the land. The city is left in ruins, its gates battered down.

Isaiah 59:2It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

Ezekiel 24:23You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan among yourselves for all the evil you have done.

Sin causes panic. Fear of exposure to violence and then actual exposure combine to undermine our sense of security. When we sin, we cut ourselves off from the lifeline of God’s safety and protection.

1 Samuel 30:1-6Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone. When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

Jeremiah 49:29“Their flocks and tents will be captured, and their household goods and camels will be taken away. Everywhere shouts of panic will be heard: ‘We are terrorized at every turn!’”

Matthew 6:19-21“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Loss, even fear of loss, can cause panic. Losing people who were part of our support system can cause us to panic about our future. Losing material objects, particularly if they are more important to us than they ought to be, can generate powerful feelings of desperation.

Acts 17:5-8Some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.” The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports.

James 3:16Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Jealousy and selfish ambition can cause panic by producing inappropriate actions and reactions that may backfire and bring retaliation.

2 Kings 6:14-17So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Psalm 40:12Troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.

Psalm 55:5Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking.

Psalm 69:2Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me.

1 John 4:18Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

Trouble and fear can cause panic because these feelings lead to the conclusion that our life will never change for the better. Panic often generates despair. Knowing the reality of God’s loving presence can change everything—transforming our fear to hope in the most terrifying situations.

Exodus 4:1Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”

Psalm 94:19When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Doubt can cause panic by making us question ourselves, others, and even God.

Luke 8:22-24One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.

Half of Jesus’ disciples were Galilean fishermen who knew how treacherous the waters of the Sea of Galilee could be. The other half probably couldn’t swim and were terrified of the unknown. Dangerous and uncontrollable circumstances can cause panic because they make us feel helpless and unable to improve the situation.

Exodus 14:10-11As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?”

Judges 20:41The men of Israel turned and attacked. At this point the men of Benjamin became terrified, because they realized disaster was close at hand.

1 Samuel 4:10So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents.

Powerful enemies can cause panic because we know they aim to destroy us. This kind of panic instigates the fight-or-flight response in us. Note in these passages that sometimes when all is lost, panic leads to fierce resistance, while at other times panic leads to simply giving up.

Proverbs 31:21-25She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Matthew 25:1-13“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

Being unprepared can cause us to panic in times of crisis. Good preparation gives us peace about the future.

1 Samuel 17:51David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.

Ezekiel 34:5So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal.

A lack or loss of leadership in a crisis can cause panic, leaving people confused and without direction.

Exodus 14:24Just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion.

Deuteronomy 7:23“The Lord your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into complete confusion until they are destroyed.”

1 Samuel 7:10Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.

1 Samuel 14:20Then Saul and all his men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere.

2 Samuel 22:15He shot arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were confused.

Zechariah 12:4“On that day,” says the Lord, “I will cause every horse to panic and every rider to lose his nerve. I will watch over the people of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of their enemies.”

God can cause an enemy to panic for the benefit, protection, and defense of his people. The peace of God can emerge from the panic of his enemies.

Haggai 2:22“I [the Lord] will overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and riders. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other.”

Zechariah 14:13On that day they will be terrified, stricken by the Lord with great panic. They will fight their neighbors hand to hand.

Sudden chaos can easily lead to panic. It can even cause us to turn on those we should be depending upon to survive.

Romans 16:17Now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.

Galatians 3:1-4Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

Panic and discord are often the result of false teaching. These responses can even be an early warning sign that God’s truth is under attack.