You pick up your phone to check one thing, and suddenly you are scrolling through another story about the war. Another update. Another opinion. Another voice saying this is the beginning of the end. By the time you put the phone down, your chest feels tight and you are not sure why you feel so unsettled.
If that is you, let’s open the Word together. Jesus spoke directly about wars and rumors of wars, and He did not tell us to panic. He told us to stay watchful, stay faithful, and not be alarmed. Here is what that looks like in real life.
What Is Actually Going On
As of late October 2026, the U.S. is involved in a war with Iran, and many Americans are uneasy about it. An AP-NORC poll released October 1 found that about 70 percent of U.S. adults say the war has not been worth fighting. The same poll found that about half of adults are highly worried about being able to afford gas, which shows how quickly a faraway conflict can feel close to home.
I am not going to take political sides here, and I am not going to predict what happens next. Nobody who writes honestly can. What I can do is show you what Scripture says, because Scripture does not change when the headlines do.
What Jesus Said in Matthew 24
The disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age, and His answer began with a warning, not a timeline. Matthew 24:4-8 (NIV):
“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.'”
Three things stand out to me.
First, deception comes before the wars in His list. Jesus was more concerned that we would be misled than that we would be surprised by conflict. That is why we are going to talk, in this series, about testing every voice against Scripture.
Second, He said “see to it that you are not alarmed.” That is a command with a promise inside it. If Jesus tells us not to be alarmed, He also gives us what we need to obey. He does not ask us to feel nothing. He asks us not to be ruled by alarm.
Third, wars are “the beginning of birth pains,” not the delivery. Wars, famines, and earthquakes have been happening for as long as people have written history. Hard news by itself is not a sign that we know the day. Jesus said in Matthew 24:36 (NIV), “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Anyone who tells you this particular war means the end is next is claiming to know more than the Son did when He walked the earth.
Where God Is While the World Shakes
Psalm 46 was written for exactly this kind of moment. Verses 1 and 2 (NIV): “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” Then, a few verses later, the psalmist looks at war itself. Verse 9 (NIV): “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.” And in verse 10 (NIV): “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'”
“Be still” is not a call to ignore what is happening. It is an invitation to stop striving, stop spinning, and remember who is on the throne. God is not watching the news with the rest of us. He is the one the nations answer to.
Jesus also left us His own peace. John 14:27 (NIV): “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” And in John 16:33 (NIV): “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Notice He is honest. He said we will have trouble. He is not selling an easy life. He is promising a peace that does not depend on how the world is doing.
How a Christian Woman Can Respond
Pray, specifically
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV), “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” We are told to pray for those in authority and for peace. You can pray for leaders to have wisdom, for families caught in the conflict, for soldiers and their loved ones, and for people to come to know Christ in the middle of hardship. Prayer is not a lesser response. It is the response Scripture gives us first.
Be a peacemaker where you are
Jesus said in Matthew 5:9 (NIV), “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Romans 12:18 (NIV) adds, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” War headlines can turn dinner tables and group chats into battlegrounds. You may not be able to affect a foreign conflict, but you can affect how you speak to your sister, your coworker, and the comment section.
Guard your intake
Staying informed is wise. Refreshing the news all night is not. Decide when you will check, from a reliable source, and then close the app. Replace that scroll with something that feeds you: a psalm, a worship song, or a walk.
Stay faithful with what is in front of you
Jesus never told His people to wait out hard times in a bunker. He told us to love our neighbors, share the gospel, and keep serving. Your faithfulness in the ordinary, the school pickup, the shift at work, the meal you carry to a friend, is not wasted while the world is loud.
A Prayer for Anxious Hearts
Lord, You see what is happening in the world, and You see the fear in my heart. Help me not to be alarmed, because You have told me not to be. Be near to those who are suffering from this conflict. Give wisdom to those in authority. Teach me to be still and know that You are God, and keep me from being deceived by every voice that is louder than Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.
This is part of a short series on fear in uncertain times. Next up are the economy, blackout worries, and how to test false prophets. You can start with the overview in Afraid of What’s Coming?, and if worry has been a long-term struggle, Stop Fear From Controlling Your Life may help.
What has been weighing on your heart most about the news lately? Leave a comment and I will pray with you.
If you would rather listen than read, watch the video version below.
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You are chosen and loved by our Heavenly Father. Have a blessed day!
News source: AP-NORC poll, released October 1, 2026.
