When the Bear Is Closing In
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
An atheist was walking through the woods, admiring what he called the “accidents” of evolution. “What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!” he said, crediting it all to chance. But as he walked along the riverbank, the bushes began to shake. He turned—and a seven-foot grizzly bear was charging straight at him. Suddenly, philosophy didn’t matter. Theory didn’t matter. As he ran for his life and heard the pounding paws gaining ground, something deep inside him awakened. When danger closed in, so did reality.
It’s amazing how quickly our confidence in self can crumble when the “bear” of life starts chasing us. A diagnosis. A financial strain. A wayward child. A sudden loss. In calm seasons, people may dismiss God, explain Him away, or push Him aside. But when fear grips the heart and strength runs out, many cry out to the very God they claimed did not exist. Why? Because Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God “hath set the world in their heart.” There is something in us that knows.
Life has a way of cornering us. And when it does, we discover what we truly believe. The Psalmist said in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Notice—a very present help. Not distant. Not theoretical. Present. When the bear is closing in, you don’t need a debate. You need deliverance.
Maybe tonight you’re not being chased by a grizzly, but something feels just as real. Fear has a way of stripping away pride. Trials expose foundations. The question is not whether trouble will come—it will. The question is, who will you trust when it does? Don’t wait until the roar is in your ears to settle that answer.
Creation is not random. And faith is not foolish. When the bear is closing in, it’s a good time to run—to the Lord.
Ask yourself honestly: What do I run to when pressure comes? When stress rises, do I turn to distraction, anger, control, or worry—or do I turn to the Lord? Trials reveal where our confidence truly rests. It’s easy to speak about faith when life is calm. It is much harder—and much more important—to practice faith when the “bear” is closing in. Make the decision now, before crisis hits, that God will be your refuge. Spend time daily in His Word. Strengthen your prayer life. Teach your children where safety is found. Build your theology in the sunshine so it will stand in the storm. When fear comes—and it will—you won’t have to invent faith in the moment. You will simply run to the One you already trust. Today, choose to run toward God, not away from Him.
"The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory." — Psalm 64:10
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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