Every day I see news headlines about discouraging and disheartening events, and at times receive contradictory information about things that affect my day-to-day life, finances, budgeting, and plans for the future.
In the midst of this uncertainty, I have a choice. I choose to stay connected to what is important instead of what randomly appears as “urgent” in the news. I choose to pattern my life after the principles in the Bible so that I can be an agent of God’s light and hope to the world around me.
I choose my personal and spiritual development as my source of hope and harmony, and the way I stay connected with my identity, purpose, and vision.
Worrying about what is happening in the world takes energy and time away from thinking proactively about what truly concerns me—my activities, productivity, well-being, health, family, coworkers, and relationship with the Lord.
To minimize the distressing effects from the information that the media offers, I select news headlines that are related specifically to my interests and my profession, and I ignore the rest. And I join groups online where the news is categorized according to what relates to my profession or interests. These are reliable sources that do the hard work of searching for the important among the superfluous.
I don’t let a day go by without reading the Bible or a Christian author, and on weekends I take advantage of listening to Christian mentors on their YouTube channels. I also regularly enjoy my favorite comedians. Humor is medicine for my soul.
In moments of uncertainty, I remember that nothing will be asked of me beyond what I can endure and manage, and that along with the challenges, the skills I need to overcome are at my disposal. No matter how intense the circumstances may seem, tomorrow is another day, a new beginning where the old has passed and all things are made new.
“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 MSG).
“[Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I have found that simplicity can lead to wisdom, because simplicity is linked to humility. Declaring my needs and lacks to my heavenly Father is the key that can provide answers and open previously sealed doors.