hurricane Helen made landfall in September 2024 becoming one of the most devastating storms of the year it battered the Southeastern coast of the United States particularly affecting Florida Georgia and South Carolina the storm brought wind speeds of up to 125 mph leading to widespread destruction and power outages the storm surge reaching Heights of up to 12 ft in some areas caused severe flooding inundating homes and infrastructure some regions saw up to 20 in of rainfall in just a few days overwhelming drainage systems and causing rivers to overflow the estimated cost of damage is expected to
surpass $15 billion with thousands of homes destroyed and entire communities displaced the sheer magnitude of the storm is a stark reminder of the intensifying natural disasters that we are witnessing in these last days barely a month after Helen hurricane Milton followed in October 20124 compounding the devastation in the Southeastern us Milton's path included parts of Florida and extended northward to the Carolinas with winds reaching 110 mph Milton caused widespread power outages and further flooding in areas that had not yet recovered from Helen coastal cities faced additional Storm surges with some areas experiencing record-breaking water levels
of up to 14 ft normally dry ground water is already life-threatening it's too late to evacuate water this high can knock you off your feet make cars float and driving impossible the first floor of homes and businesses are flooded unfortunately the water's expected to rise even higher at 6 fet above the height of most people Vehicles get carried away structure start to fail just look at this the cumulative damage from both storms is expected to exceed $45 billion leaving many without homes or essential services for weeks these back-to-back hurricanes both unprecedented in their strength and
timing highlight the unusual and perilous times we are living in the scary part is some areas could see surge values at 10 to 15 ft and this takes us up to 9 as natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity these events should prompt believers to recognize the urgency of the times we are living in while hurricane Helen captured media attention a significant yet underreported event occurred in Morocco where parts of the Sahara Desert experienced severe flooding it is almost unheard of for this Aid region to see such amounts of rain but in September 2024 torrential
downpours led to flash floods that transformed the desert landscape areas that typically reive less than an inch of rain in a year suddenly became impassible due to the floods Sahara Desert one of the driest places on Earth has flooded torrential rainfall in Southeastern Morocco swamp the desert for the first time in half a century last month the area received more than a Year's worth of rain in just two days nomadic tribes and local communities were left stunned grappling with the unusual weather while this event may not have gained wide spread media coverage it is another
reminder of the strange and perplexing natural occurrences happening globally Italy a country known for its beautiful landscapes is also home to dangerous volcanic activity the country has 12 volcanoes in total and as of 2024 nine of them are still considered active Mount Etna one of the most well-known and active volcanoes in Europe has shown increased activity with significant eruptions occurring this year Italy's vulnerability to seismic activity means earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are regular threats to life and infrastructure in 2024 Tremors in southern Italy were linked to volcanic activity adding to the heightened sense of alarm
the Bible tells us to expect earthquakes in diverse places as a sign of the last days Italy's increasing seismic activity is a chilling fulfillment of this prophecy perhaps one of of the most concerning signs of the end times is the continuous outbreak of War across the globe Israel remains at War on four fronts dealing with threats from Gaza Hezbollah and Lebanon Syrian based militias and other factions this ongoing conflict has led to thousands of casualties and heightened tensions in the Middle East meanwhile Russia's war with Ukraine drags on creating immense suffering and global economic instability
Matthew 24: 6 to8 and ye shall hear of wars and rumors 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 diverse places all these are the beginning of Sorrows moreover the significance lies not just in recognizing these signs but in the heart posture they encourage if we truly believe that we're living in the beginning of Sorrows it should instill an urgency in our hearts
an urgency that time is running out an urgency to seek the Lord while while he may be found an urgency to understand that we are moving closer and closer to the Book of Revelation an urgency to spread the gospel to deepen our relationship with Jesus and to be ambassadors of his peace in an increasingly tumultuous world time and time again we need to remind ourselves we are literally living in the beginning of Sorrows the beginning of Sorrows is no longer a prophecy no they are here the days you live in are the beginning of Sorrows
the days you live in are the end of days the days you live in are prophetic the days you live in are a Crossroads of Eternity the days you live in are the unfolding of Revelation the days you live in are The Testament of Truth foretold the days you live in are the final pages of Earthly history each headline every tragedy and all the global disruption shouldn't push us to fear but to a deeper Faith it's a call to understand the times and recognize God's Sovereign hand guiding world events do not be surprised at what
is happening in our world Jesus told us this will happen yes the Sorrows are real the pain suffering and Chaos are palpable but let them serve as a reminder that that these are but the beginnings just as labor pains ultimately culminate in the joy of New Birth these Sorrows point to the hope of Jesus's return and the establishment of his eternal Kingdom it is easy to look out into the world and believe that everything is out of control but I would like to remind you my friend we serve a living God a sovereign God everything
is not out of control he will works all things after the counsel of his own will God is in charge Jesus made it clear that all the things listed in Matthew 24 will be part of the last days the perilous times you are constantly hearing rumors of wars you are constantly hearing about people dying and you don't know what to do you feel like you are not safe you feel like you cannot bear these evils in the world anymore you feel as if the world and its rulers are getting more and more wicked by the
day Jesus said you should not be discouraged because of this he said you should not be troubled no matter what happens in this world no matter what the government does in the country you live in don't be discouraged don't live in fear remember that God is still on his throne and as long as God is still on his throne you don't have to be afraid you don't have to live in fear God is watching you everything you say everything you do God is watching you every move you make every step you take God is watching
you not one second passes where God does not have his eyes on you God is watching you wherever you are right now and whatever you are doing know this God is watching you typically when I say this to people they get nervous they become afraid and apprehensive but the problem is that they still view God not as a father but as someone they are at enmity with if you are born again the fact that God is watching you should not bring fear into your heart but it should give you peace a peace that surpasses all
understanding a peace that does not come from this world you are no longer enmity with God because of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ no man has ever loved you like the Lord Jesus loves you he died for you he experienced the most profound death for you he gave his life for you and now this very second he is the one seated at the right hand of the father and he is advocating for us it is all about the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for you what he did for his bride now
as we know the Bible tells us that we are living in the end of days we are truly in the 11th hour and the 59th minute of human civilization we can see everything that Jesus told us would happen in Matthew 24 is happening now as we come to the end of this message I want to remind you that while the beginning of Sorrows is upon us we as Christians are not left to face these challenges alone Jesus himself warned us that these days would come Wars rumors of wars natural disasters and widespread deception but he
also gave gave us the assurance that through it all we have a solid foundation that cannot be shaken that Foundation is Christ Hebrews 13:8 tells us Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever yes these events will increase in intensity and the world will grow darker but in the midst of that Darkness we the followers of Christ carry the light of the world no matter how Bleak the headlines become no matter how unstable things may seem in your personal life or in the world around you our faith must be anchored in Jesus Isaiah 41:10
says fear not for I am with you be not dismayed for I am your God I will strengthen you yes I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand This Promise is as true for us today as it was for Isaiah's audience the events that are unfolding before our eyes eyes are not meant to terrify us but to prepare us God will strengthen us for what lies ahead he will uphold us with his righteous right hand Psalm 121 1:2 declares I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help
come from my help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and Earth as we witness the beginning of Sorrows our Focus must remain fixed on Jesus whatever trials you may face in these Liv last days whether they are personal struggles persecution for your faith or the overwhelming pressures of a world in chaos remember that your help comes from the Lord you are not walking through these trials alone God is walking with you mark 14:38 reminds us watch and pray lest you enter into temptation the beginning of Sorrows is also a season of preparation while
the world is focused on the crisis and the chaos we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our relationship with God this is the time to dive deeper into his word to grow stronger in prayer and to cling to the promises of scripture in these last days watching and praying is not a passive act it's an active engagement in our faith we must remain Vigilant not allowing the Troubles of this world to distract us from the Eternal hope we have in Christ as you watch and pray remember this incredible truth God knows your name he knows
everything about you your strengths your weaknesses your triumphs and your struggles he knows your situation better than you do and nothing about your life has escaped his notice you are not just a face in the crowd nor are your challenges unseen by him God is deeply aware of every detail every hardship and every burden you carry he knows what you are going through right now whether it's uncertainty about the future Financial struggles health issues or relationships that are strained he knows the weight that has been pressing on your heart and he sees the tears you've
cried when no one else is watching every feeling of anxiety every moment of doubt and every silent prayer you've whispered God hears and knows it all he knows the depth of your fears those things you're afraid to say out loud he understands the concerns that wake you up in the middle of the night even when you're unsure of what steps to take next God knows the way forward he already sees the outcome and he is walking with you through every moment of uncertainty he knows how exhausted you may feel how the weight of the world
seems to press down on you at times but even in those moments when you feel like giving up remember God is your strength he has not forgotten for gotten about you he knows exactly what you need and he is more than able to provide he is not distant he is close closer than you can imagine his presence is right there with you in every high and low guiding you comforting you and carrying you when you feel too weak to continue God knows your desires your dreams and the hopes you hold deep in your heart he
sees you and he has not forgotten the promises he has made to you even in seasons of waiting or uncertainty God is at work behind the scenes orchestrating every detail for your good so take heart knowing that the god of the universe the one who holds all things together knows your name he knows your journey he knows your battles your victories and your challenges and through it all he is for you he is working on your behalf preparing the way ahead and ensuring that no no matter what happens you are never alone let this truth
bring you peace and confidence as you continue to place your faith in him Matthew 6: 31-33 tells us do not worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear for the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly father knows that that you need them but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well let this be our mindset in these last days seeking God first when the world is anxious we can have peace when the world is in
despair we can have hope John 16:33 assures Us in this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world the Temptation in these times is to place our faith in worldly Solutions governments leaders economies but as Christians we know that our ultimate hope and trust Must Be In Christ Alone everything around us may fail but Jesus never will the trouble he spoke of is exactly what we are seeing today but his victory is the guarantee of our ultimate Triumph James 1:12 encourages us blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial
for when he has stood the test he will receive the Crown of Life which God has promised to those who love him we may face persecution difficulties and challenges in the days ahead but these trials are opportunities for our faith to be refined let this be a time when we press into God like never before trusting him through every storm Hebrews 10:25 urges us to not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching as the body of Christ
we are not in this alone we have one another now more than ever we need to be a community of believers who uplift and strengthen one another when the burdens of this world become heavy let us bear one another's burdens when one of us feels weak let us remind them of the strength we have in Christ when one is discouraged let us speak words of life and hope 2 Corinthians 4:17 says for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all remember the beginning of Sorrows is just
that the beginning it is not the end Jesus promised us a glorious future one that far outweighs the temporary sufferings of this world no matter how intense the Sorrows may become they are temporary and they are preparing us for an eternity with Christ Revelation 21:4 paints a beautiful picture of that future he will wipe every tear from their eyes there will be no more death or Mourning or crying or pain for the old Order of Things has passed away this is the hope we have as Believers that one day all sorrow pain and suffering will
be gone and we will live in the presence of our savior for forever Hebrews 12:2 exhorts us to fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith as we navigate these difficult times let us keep our eyes on him he is our constant our Rock and our refuge when the world is shaking he is unshakable when the world is crumbling he remains steadfast and when we feel overwhelmed we can turn to him knowing that he cares for us no matter what happen happens in this increasingly dark and chaotic World One Thing Remains
certain God is with you in the midst of the storms When Everything feels uncertain and the weight of the world seems overwhelming you are never alone God's presence surrounds you even in the moments when you can't see a Way Forward he walks beside you through every Valley every trial and every hardship holding you up when you feel like you can't stand on your own there will be times when it feels like the world is falling apart when the pressures of Life seem too much to bear but know this God will not leave you he is
not a distant Observer of your life he is deeply involved guiding you step by step even when the path seems unclear he knows exactly what you need and he is more than able to provide the strength peace and hope you require to keep going for