What's happening in this world, and what should I do?
We understand there are shocking and unexpected events that make it impossible to be prepared with wise responses or reactions. With the changes within our society, many feel unprepared for the expectations of their lifestyle as well as their roles within their family.
What is our secret weapon?
One word. Hope. Those who are hopeful can untangle negative outcomes. Thankfully, you don’t have to wait for circumstances to get better and THEN have hope. Feelings affect our spiritual life because Jesus is love and light, so when we choose feelings that agree with hope, healing, possibilities, and making allowance for other’s faults, we come into agreement with His opinion.
There are a lot of fear-based emotions going around right now. And they’re contagious. Worry, despair, nervousness, lack of control, judgment, confusion, hatred, stress, overwhelmed, heaviness, and depression are plaguing individuals, resulting in a huge strain on relationships. And the fear is real!
Two hundred years ago, people had a small world which usually included a field to farm, a small group of people, and on an odd day, news from other parts of the region. The average person likely encountered five to ten people. Now our world is hugely vast with access to footage from around the world, moment-by-moment news, and connections to thousands and thousands of people. The average person hears and experiences thousands of opinions, values, and images within a few hours at the beginning of each day! Knowing so much, and encountering so many people can put our minds, thoughts, and emotions on overload. That’s why many people feel constantly overwhelmed and deal with anxiety.
All that said, give yourself some compassion! You have access to a lot of news, emotions, people, perceived competition, and devastation every single day. But now give yourself some power. You get to choose when your attention and thoughts go, and diving deep into fear-based emotions is usually expressed in selfish behavior.
What is our destiny?
Our purpose is simple: We are the bridge and liaison between heaven and earth. We have an incredible honor and calling to engage in faith. That is, seeing the end from the beginning. You were created to live in a state of hope, joy, and peace. These aren’t just emotions but can become your abiding feelings, based on your beliefs about who you are, why you were created, and who your Creator really is.
When you have hope, you aren’t easily offended, hurt, or rejected. When you have hope you create ideas of how you can be kind, generous, and understanding. Hope is for those who choose to process life differently. Even if the present is unpleasant, the thought or hope of a positive future can overcome stress and even reduce the impact of bad news or disappointment.
Like a detective, begin to recognize every area that doesn’t shine with hope in your life. Recognize you must be believing a lie about yourself, about God, or the people around you. Being cheerful is evidence that we have attached faith to our experiences.
Instead of gathering more information about what’s happening in our world,
Consider the person with who you are face to face. Your family member, store clerk, workmate...
Do something new - to be generous
Do something new - to be kind to a family member
Do something new - to be kind to a stranger
Consider changing your mood! You can choose and switch to hope, mercy and joy any day, and any moment. We believe in new beginnings, deriving strength from joy, peace amid storms, and the presence of God. Your resilience is grounded in Him and you can thrive no matter what happens. This is the ultimate gift to all of your relationships!
Hear more about this topic on Episode 101 of All About Relationships Podcast with Bob and Audrey.