Perhaps said differently, about worry and concern and "The End Of The World as we know it".
Over the course of my life, I have been concerned about a great many things. Some of them were significant world shaking events. Some of them were constrained to my small circle of the world. Some of them just involved me and my own issues.
In almost every case, the worry and concern that I had never manifested itself into anything that amounted to anything.
Well, not precisely true. I did get myself worked up a great deal and spent a great deal of emotional energy on things that ended up either not impacting my life at all or having minimal impact.
---
One of the great realizations of adulthood is how little influence we have on most things.
We cannot influence the weather no matter how badly we would like it to cooperate with our planned activity. We cannot directly influence the policies of governments or companies if they have decided to take particular actions (yes, we can vote, express our opinion, vote with our wallet, etc. - but if an organization of any kind has set its mind to a course, it conveniently forgets to listen). We cannot influence events of world shaking impact from our homes on Sunday (as I write this), staring a cup of lukewarm coffee.
We can worry about them. We can shout to the sky about them and (nowadays) post on Social Media about our anger or concern or worry or "This is it!" We can even react to the situation by taking actions which are not very helpful or even sensible but somehow make us feel like we are doing something (like, for example, suddenly stockpiling toilet paper).
We can do a great many things which have no impact, but make us sick with worry and fear and concern.
---
We can pray of course - and well we should, for we are commanded to. But even in those prayers we are asking for God to act on our behalf in accordance with His will, not our own. And God's plans are certainly not our own; I myself have spent a great deal of my life learning just how far my plans are misaligned from His.
Strangely enough, His plans very often have little to do with my own concerns and anxieties of current things.
---
Beyond that, what can I do?
Well, be aware of course in general. But not aware to be fearful, but aware to take actions as they can be taken. But not out of fear or anxiety, out of measured concern.
Carry on, as the British said in World War II. Events may very well overtake us all. On the other hand, I could die in a car crash coming home this week (a perhaps far more likely scenario) or one of the many local volcanos could erupt. I cannot control those events. Neither can I control any of these.
But not worry. Or be completely dominated by any concern or hang breathlessly on the latest news report or social media outburst. After all, it is often not the event itself which can cause harm, but the unthought through and panicked responses that can create the most damage.
Being lost happens: wandering off and getting lost or setting fire that burns down the forest hardly helps us get found all the quicker.
Sage advice! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe other thing really bothers me, though. Not just that it happened/is happening today, but that the perpetrators continue to do it, and have suffered no punishment, nor does it appear they will (beyond having to quit your job if your name was in there, maybe).
I know I'm supposed to console myself with God's infinite justice, they will be tortured in hell for all eternity... but all the same, I want to see them swing. I want to watch their eyes bulge out and see the flicker go silent. They deserve so much worse, but I want to see that happen in this world.
Or is that the lesson we're supposed to learn?
W. in CA
DeleteQuick note: We see different things in this world in what you wrote about TB. This subject, too, God will handle. Many will have to decide to choose the light of Jesus in order to process this travesty. Sadly, it is minor in the light of all trafficking worldwide. In the Middle East it is every day woman's struggles and fears. God's vengeance is the justice we see now though that wasn't the initial motive for the attack. I have never seen so many women celebrating. May their new freedoms lead to Jesus.
W. in CA
ReplyDeleteTB, like you, I've done enough hand wringing in my life that probably equals several years when combined. Many rambling worry prayers, too. Praying in faith and asking God to settle you and reading your favorite Scriptures may help. Avoiding the talking heads and just skimming headlines may help take the emotion out of it, but still keep you informed. The prophecy pundits should be avoided, even if you are curious. I guarantee they are whipping every prophesy Scripture into a connection to a current headline.
Gasoline went up about 2 cents in the last 8 hours, expect it to go higher and act accordingly. We will probably all be tightening our belts very soon. We can only control and will things only so far. The rest is losing sleep and losing joy. Our grandparents survived WWII and we will survive whatever this will be. Our faith is in our Anchor and our ultimate future is in Jesus. Find comfort in this.
Years ago, I had read through the Bible a few times and was reading Matthew 10 for a class study, when I shuddered and cried and almost gave up the class I was taking. How could I write about this! The breaking down of the family, individually and collectively? I had experienced it, was experiencing it and all my efforts of trying to fix and patch and plead and pray had resulted in no improvement. It was like trying to hold water in my hands, it leaked out anyway.
So, the study, the prayer, the needed insight, that came with a great reward. A burst of typing, and a new outlook. It is still a painful passage. I came to see the collective part. Much suffering in families all around. I saw connections to what looked like future events, the putting to death of family section as something happening now in the political, moral, and familial struggles, opinions, and outcomes of abortion and right to die/euthanasia legislation. God opened my eyes in ways I hadn't seen before. The division of family that comes a few verses later, we had already experienced. There was comfort knowing God divided family over belief in Him. It is part of His plan. It is His way of keeping us separated for Him as He did the children of Israel.
The Lord wants us believers to be faithful and to cling to the Rock. From that stable foundation He will lead us. Maybe you are David in the wilderness and the Lord is going to equip you to lead an army of the fearful, into an army of young men who need a leader, who follow a leader. We certainly see many young men fitting that description. Offer yourself as a tool in His hands. He will use you for whatever He has already prepared you for. Myself, maybe a Lydia or a Priscilla, a Proverbs 31 woman I thought I could never attain to. I realize at this moment I doubted because I thought I would be doing this in my own strength and intellect, and had already failed. That woman never sleeps! Here I am signing off after 3 AM!
I pray for you, I pray for us all, and our leaders, and the world's situations. Good, bad, or ugly! We will make it through somehow. Jesus lights our path. Psalm 119:105, I believe.
I'm up for Bible study and journaling at 5. Better get some shut eye! The Lord's blessings to you!