Many articles, TV shows, movies, and personal discussions concerning how to survive TEOTWAWKI usually revolve around food, water, medical supplies, transportation, fuel, and how to defend yourself during such a time. What I am about to communicate is perhaps too religious for some and maybe not religious enough for others, but here it goes anyway, my best shot.
Yes, it is important to try and be prepared materially as best you possibly can be, depending upon what your means allow you to do. Some can be more prepared than others, because they have more means to do so, and others are fortunate enough to have formed groups that are either loosely based or even formally based, which gives the group a very good means to provide the necessities for survival during a TEOTWAWKI scenario. That is all well and good.
The question really is though, just what is it that will really get you through what may be a truly terrifying and/or horrific event? Food, water, medical supplies, fuel, transportation, and defensive means may address some of the things being faced, but what about the psychological and spiritual aspects being faced? Despair, depression, hopelessness, and low morale can all be a greater enemy than loss of infrastructure (electricity, fuel, transportation, food, and societal breakdown in general), roving gangs, UN troops, natural disasters, et cetera. The reason that despair, depression, hopelessness, and low morale can be a greater enemy is because it cannot be fought in the same way that the external forces can be fought and dealt with. You cannot see it, and it is hard to tell when it is starting to overcome you so much so that you can be defeated before you even realize that these psychological/spiritual issues are attacking you.
The psychological and spiritual issues can be, and may very well be, the most difficult enemy you will fight during a TEOTWAWKI event. The only way I know to combat these enemies is to strengthen your faith and relationship with God. Regardless of what denomination or non-denomination you identify with, regardless of whether you associate with a church or not, it is going to be very difficult to survive without a strong faith and relationship with God. God will get you through more difficult, terrifying, and horrific times than anything else will. Will those who are agnostic or atheist survive a TEOTWAWKI event? Some of them may very well survive, if for no other reason than a will to survive or by chance. You may say that those are the same two things that will get us all through such an event, although my own personal thoughts and beliefs are that surviving any overwhelming event requires a strong faith and relationship with God. Chance is just that, a possibility that something may happen to get you through bad times, and a strength of will may get you through as well unless you are facing something unimaginable. Only God can get you through the unexpected and unimaginable.
Too many of the scenarios depicting a TEOTWAWKI event in books, articles, TV shows, and movies tend to leave God out of the scenario, showing that humans left to their own devices can resolve anything. I do not know that history reflects humans without God resolving much of anything; rather, it has been a matter of creating more problems than we solved.
The United States has not directly experienced foreign invasion since 1812 or any war of significance in our land since the War Between the States (1861-1865). We therefore have only experienced natural disasters in regards to earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Yes, we were involved in World War I and World War II, but they were not directly fought within our borders, and what was experienced was on a much smaller and localized scale than was experienced in Europe, Africa, the Middle-East and the Asian regions of the world. We do not have the collective memory of those who lived in these regions of the world regarding the devastation those wars brought and their experience of how to survive and live through such events.
It will, therefore, be necessary for us as a people in order to survive such devastation to have a strong faith and relationship with God. We’ll need a relationship just as those who founded this country had when they first came to this land with not much more than a strong faith and belief that God would help them find their way and enable them to survive and build a new life in the New World.
I have heard too many discussions from friends, associates, co-workers, and even strangers in public places concerning surviving a TEOTWAWKI event without ever once mentioning God. Some of these people are religious, and you would think that God would be part of the discussion, but that is not always the case. My personal belief is that to survive any TEOTWAWKI event that God needs to play a large part in your survival plans or your chances of surviving will diminish.
The one thing to remember and to keep in mind is that God is in control. The only control evil has over us is the control we give to evil.
Regardless of how terrifying and horrific the world may become, it is all part of God’s plan. Our job is not to vanquish evil. Jesus has already vanquished the evil one. Our job is to hold the line until Jesus comes again. Holding the line does not mean that there will not be losses or that the evil one will not take a toll on us; it means that not giving in and standing against evil allows for the Second Coming to fulfill prophecy. It also fulfills our free will to choose God over the evil one. Knowing and accepting that God is in control is neither fatalism nor defeatism, as we have our role to fulfill in whatever is going to happen. There is no standing on the sidelines and just watching. All of us will be very involved in whatever is going to happen. No role will be too small or too great to play in the coming battle.
Do not let the anxiety of reports that the economy is going to crash soon, that terrorism is on the increase in the US, that crime in general is on the increase, and/or that race relations are the worst they have been in many, many decades cause you to act impulsively and do something that you would not normally do. Yes, prepare as best as your means will allow to protect and defend yourself, your family, and your friends, but do not let it lead to counter-productive actions. Over-reacting to the news of the day can and will lead to despair, depression, hopelessness, and anxiety that will continue to drive you in circles, accomplishing nothing. Play your part regardless of whether you think your actions matter or not. God wants you to play your part. Evil would prefer you stay on the sidelines and do nothing. So, get out and vote when you have the opportunity, stand up against those that oppose the Judeo-Christian foundations of this country, do what you can to prepare materially, but especially prepare yourself spiritually and psychologically, strengthen your faith and your relationship with God, and continue to do so no matter what happens. God is in control, and that is all that matters.
How to strengthen your faith and relationship with God:
- Attend Church as often as you can
- Read the Bible (keep a Bible with you if you can, in your car, et cetera)
- Read Bible commentaries and other Christian literature
- Attend Bible study classes
- Listen to spiritually oriented music; Praise/Worship, Gospel, Gregorian chant
- Listen to Christian Radio
- Watch Christian TV
- Fellowship with other Christians
- Pray often (with family, friends, and especially if you are alone)
- Know that God is there even when evil seems to be the only thing that is present
- “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”, so don’t sit on the sidelines watching!
- Know that God is in control.
…trust in God and keep your powder dry.
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: “ – (Ephesians 6:10-17).
Also, read Psalms 22, 23, and 91 on a regular basis, and especially in difficult times!!