(Source: booksnquotes.com, via joynessly)
Overwhelmed.
That would be the word to describe how I’ve felt this past year.
Specifically I’ve felt overwhelmed by the last few months with the protest in Charlottesville, and the Hurricanes in Texas and Puerto Rico, the Las Vegas shooting, the U.S’s political climate and some other events that have happened to myself or friends. More and more I have become aware of the brokenness of this world. And it’s not that I didn’t know that the world was broken before but the Lord has allowed me to feel the impact of the world’s brokenness more. And I don’t consider my ability to feel the impact of the world’s brokenness or a greater ability to empathize with it to be a burden.
Instead it is a gift.
It is a gift to ache for the sins in this world. I would be scared if I saw sin and the ramifications of sin and didn’t first display hatred for sin but also grieve for lost souls.
I credit my newfound awareness of the brokenness of the world to an increased interest in diversity in my life. For so long I only thought or cared about problems that were directly related to me and my life and the lives of those close to me. But this world is so much bigger than me and my problems (although I think my Father cares about them). The world encompasses a large and diverse group of people all with their own issues and problems. Thankfully our God is big enough and loving enough to care about our problems and He invites us to care about the problems of others as well. (1 Peter 3:8).
The rise of mass media also is to be accounted for in my new awareness of the global church. Now all it takes is a quick google search to learn about the persecution in Myanmar. Sometimes all I see as I scroll down my Facebook feed is brokenness and hurt. It’s become almost impossible to avoid.
Although there are times when I need to unplug from the cycle of bad news I’m so thankful that the Lord has softened my heart to care for the people of this world who He loves more than I ever could. And I hope and pray that God would use me for His good work in this world. Despite all the pain I’ve read about or witnessed this year, I am more convinced than ever of the hope that I have and Jesus Christ, and I have never wanted to share it more. I wanna give my hope away to every broken heart I see. I want people all over this world to know that the joy of the Lord is their strength and though darkness and shadows may come, they DO NOT overcome the Lord.
I hope that can bring peace to anyone who is feeling heavy or overwhelmed or burned out by the cycle of bad news. Through it all I will (and I believe all Christians should) continue to be aware of the issues facing the global church and our world and seek ways that I may be a part of restoring hope to it.
Once again I find myself at a place where I realize I need to stop trying to handle this crazy life on my own. I’m rolling my eyes at myself, but God still lovingly smiles down at me… patient as ever. We were never meant to walk this Earth alone! Jesus has been lovingly calling me out on this lately… His grace has been whispering to my heart, “These burdens aren’t for you to handle by yourself.” He is so loving. So faithful! I need to stop trying to control every part of my life. I need to let God be God! He knows what He is doing!
(via cometothewater)
