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 Forty-Four • November 1, 2026
What are you Seeking?
In this week’s message titled "What are you Seeking?" from Kitchener Baptist Church, Pastor Jerry A. Burns explores John 20 to show how the world searches for meaning in the wrong places. Listeners will hear how Solomon looked for purpose in worldly success and pleasures only to find vanity, and how Mary Magdalene sought her Savior at the tomb, weeping for the dead before discovering He had risen.
Pastor Burns reminds us that true life is found only in Jesus Christ. The reality of Christ gives us life, and His resurrection is the key to our salvation and eternal life. We must choose life, for Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Join us on "Timeless Truths" as we turn to God's Word for these vital answers.
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