Coming of Woes/ Matthew 24:3-14 (KJV)
Matthew 24:3–14 (KJV)
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
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Lavender Prayers Reflection
“See That Ye Be Not Troubled”
The disciples came to Jesus quietly, full of questions and fear about the future. They wanted to know what was coming. They wanted certainty. They wanted safety.
Jesus did not deny that difficult days would arrive. He named them plainly: wars, division, deception, suffering, and hearts growing cold. But notice the very first instruction He gives before listing any of it:
“See that ye be not troubled.”
Not because nothing would happen.
But because fear was never meant to be our compass.
Jesus shows us that chaos does not mean God has lost control. It means the world still needs healing. He prepares His followers not to panic, but to endure with faith, wisdom, and love.
In times when nations rise against nations and rumors of war fill the air, our hearts can feel heavy. We scroll. We watch. We worry. But Jesus already saw these days and spoke directly into them.
He warns us that deception will grow. That love will grow cold. That people will turn against one another. Yet in the middle of all this, He gives one quiet promise:
“He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Endurance here is not harsh survival.
It is faithful living.
It is choosing love when hate is loud.
It is choosing truth when confusion spreads.
It is choosing prayer when fear knocks.
And then comes the final hope of the passage:
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world… and then shall the end come.”
Not destruction first.
But witness.
Not silence.
But light.
The world may feel like it is shaking, especially as war escalates and peace feels fragile. But Jesus reminds us that God’s work does not stop in dark times. It grows brighter.
So today, Lavender Prayers invites us to breathe deeply and remember:
We were not called to live in fear.
We were called to live in faith.
We were not meant to hide from the storm.
We were meant to be light within it.
🤍 Prayer
Lord,
When the world feels unsteady, steady our hearts in You.
When fear rises, teach us to endure with love.
Guard us from deception.
Keep our hearts warm when the world grows cold.
Help us to be witnesses of Your peace in troubled times.
And remind us that You already walk ahead of us into tomorrow.
Amen.