According to Merriam-Webster, a panic is “a sudden overpowering fright,” an “unreasoning terror” or widespread concern regarding financial affairs.
The word is rooted in Greek mythology where a so-called “god” named “Pan” was known to elicit extreme anxiety in both man and animal.
In 2025, media and political agitators are the new “pans” of the era. Their goal is two-fold. First, they want to get your attention and earn your click. Second, they want to either confirm or change your opinion to be in alignment with their (usually) radically liberal point of view.
Early Thursday, the ignominious Drudge Report was running the following banner headlines:
“CONSUMER PANIC HITS RICH AND POOR” … “WALL STREET SPIRAL CONTINUES.”
Linking to a Wall Street Journal article, we read that Americans are pulling back on their spending. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon acknowledged that for many, the “money runs out before the month is gone.” Costco’s Chief Financial Officer Gary Millerchip told the publication that customers are being “very choiceful,” which is code for saying they’re buying more essentials and fewer impulse-type items.
Many families and individuals can relate.
History is both a good teacher and source of perspective. Financial ups and downs are part of any capitalistic economy. We all know about the Great Depression and more recently, the financial crisis of 2008. But you might be interested to know there have been 48 recessions going back to America’s founding.
Incidentally, a recession is considered to be a “significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and that lasts more than a few months.”
Of course, Christians are not immune to fret and worry, though the Bible offers considerable advice on the subject.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” wrote King David (Psalm 23:4). We read in Deuteronomy, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (31:6). “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,” said Jesus. “Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”(John 14:27).
Recognizing the coordinated effort to rile you up is an important part of avoiding the tidal wave of worry. Don’t take the bait.
At the same time media outlets and pundits, along with some politicians, are attempting to gaslight you into thinking the country is on the verge of financial collapse, we received the news yesterday that inflation was lower than expected – and egg and gas prices, along with mortgage rates, are all going down.
But wait – might the government shut down tomorrow night, triggering another wave of fatalist headlines and hype that the end is near?
Regardless of where you are or where the economy happens to be, embrace the wise words of the apostle Paul, who urged Timothy,“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
It was Corrie ten Boom, who survived being imprisoned during World War II in the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, who wrote, “There is no panic in Heaven! God has no problems, only plans.”
We’ll need to wait for eternity to be free of earth’s problems, but with the Lord’s help and peace, we can still strive to avoid panicking before we get there.
Image from Shutterstock.
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