I hit my limit yesterday of negative news. Scrolling through my feed these days – and probably yours too — is a land mine of rhetorical blasts, accusation, hate and division.
I’m pretty sure folks in my own congregation unfriended each other over the last election. The constant stream of news can leave me feeling pretty gloomy: Bombings. Unrest. Intolerance. Forced tolerance. Shootings. Bullying. Gender confusion. Scandals. Immigration. Predators.
We have kids we’re raising in this climate and then launching into this landscape.
It’d be easy to take one look around and lose all heart. Just wring our hands over what this world’s coming to and — now that I’m old enough – wish for what it was like in the old days.
But these are our days. THIS is the exact epoch and precise generation in which God has planted us and our children. And despite the ongoing tumult of this world and the downhill slide of values, I’m optimistic.
1. I’m optimistic because ours is a spiritual kingdom not an earthly kingdom. Okay, admittedly, that can sound like Christian gobblety-gook. But left to myself, here’s the kind of life I’d order:
- Safety. No bad things ever please.
- A 401-k with 10% compound annual growth.
- A nice home in a good neighborhood with great schools.
- Kids who are happy, married, with children and good jobs.
- A secure future, long life, and good health.
But that kind of kingdom-building is wobbly in a world of unknowns. It’s veneered Christianity that sees every change and every threat as huge risk. Here’s what God’s ordered for us:
- To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
- To become more like Christ.
- To be content in all things.
- To be utterly dependent on Him.
- To make disciples and complete the work He’s prepared for us in advance.
When we let go of our own goals and grab hold of God’s, we not only have peace in a topsy-turvy world, but we find passion for the work God has for us in it.
2.I’m optimistic because Christianity isn’t a cause. It’s a relationship. God hasn’t called us to a cause but to Himself. We’re not a political interest group that needs a better lobbyist or more fundraising. We’re a body and Jesus is the head; Jehovah our only banner.
The health of Christianity isn’t dependent on elections or judicial decisions or outpacing other philosophies or religions. God is sovereign and His record on making His witness in the world is 100%. The winds of politics and world change cannot stop or slow down God’s calendar.
3. I’m optimistic because a dark world has nothing on the Light of Christ. Believers should stand in sharp relief against a darkening world. God put Abram smack dab in the pagan cultures of Canaan. He moved Joseph to Egypt. He raised Daniel to serve the ruthless kings of Babylon and Assyria and Esther to reign in Persia.
God chose Rome — a culture of polytheism and emperor worship, temple prostitution, rampant immorality, violence, materialism and the politics of ego-maniacal dictators – to bring forth His perfect and holy Son, to fulfill the gospel and to plant His church.
4. I’m optimistic because we’re not called to popularity. Or even the majority. “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew 7:14 (NLT) Jesus warned that anyone who followed him would be hated by everyone because of his name. When did we ever think popularity was God’s choice method?
5. I’m optimistic because God uses difficulty to grow his church — and us. It was persecution that caused the early Christians to scatter, taking the gospel from Jerusalem throughout Rome. Great missionary movements from Paul to St. Patrick flourished under adversity. Christianity has grown despite persecution in countries like China, Korea and today in places of the middle east.
Difficulty refines the church, driving away insincerity and lukewarm apathy. Difficulty refines us and causes us to release things that don’t matter and cling to Who does.
A broken world needs the hope of Christ like never before. In a world that’s unsafe and unanchored, we’re called to love neighbors. Wash feet. Live holy. Offer compassion. And speak truth not to win arguments but because God so loves the world.
Powerful, Lisa, and a message for our times. Wish this could be read in every church this Sunday, we need to persevere as we live out love in a world increasingly less lovely.
Yes Paris Renae. I love the way you put that to “live out love.”
Great message Lisa. We as Christians have this hope but there are many people that do not have this hope because they do not have a relationship with Christ.
So true.
Great Writing Lisa 🙂 and beutiful Pics allso 🙂
Yes Life and the World has indeed its flaws,everyday in the news flow you be upset by things that are so wrong.
And as a Christian we allways have the Spirit hue correct us and Comfort us.
Its good to see that you are enjoying your summer Lisa 🙂
Let the Sunshine in 🙂 in Word 13:6 we are protected by God 🙂
I Pray for you my Sister, pleace keep me in yours too?
God Bless you
Love
Mattias
Exuse my English Lisa Revelation 13:6 🙂
Thank God for futher Reading 😀
Thank you for commenting, Mattias! Happy summer to you as well.
Your words have been so life changing for me for some time now – in the midst of one of the darkest times in my life I have been reminded lovingly and frequently of the fact that my only hope is always the Lord, of his sovereign, unfailing love for me and of the beauty of his promises which is truer than anything I will ever experience – I am so grateful for you ❤️ It is also exciting for me to know that because of our shared love for Jesus I will meet you one day and be able to share my gratitude personally ❤️ Thank you always for what you so selflessly share
I’m so sorry for your pain right now, Janice. And yes, eternity will have the sweetest kind of fellowship we can only glimpse here.
Thank you, dear Lisa!
<3
I needed to read this. With constant bombardment of negativity on social media, news channels and paper I am left feeling overwhelmed. I live in the Middle East and our neighboring countries are literally at each other’s throat. So much stress surrounding us.
Thank you for reminding me who we belong to.
God bless.
Crystal, it is a constant bombardment! Praying you feel God’s strong hand on you and around you today.
So enocouraging Lisa!! Thank you for sharing these words given you by God! I need to write them out and read often! God bless you!! 🙏🏻❤️
So glad it encouraged, Kathy!
You are such a blessing.
Blessings to you, Jutta.
So encouraging and true Lisa! Thanks for reminding us that what we have is not deterred by what is going on in this world. Wise words to show us how our expectations left to ourselves becomes warped and self-centered. Great read friend!
They can become so skewed! Thanks, Gretchen.
Reminder: “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.” Ezekiel 18:32
This is such perspective for us! God is not willing that any should perish. . . .
Lisa,
Thank you so much for this post. The world is getting darker but we need to remember that we have the Light of the world as our Savior. We also need to remind ourselves that this is nor our final home !!
Praying for our children and grandchildren is so important as this is a different world they’re growing up in.
Blessings to you and your family!!
I appreciate your encouragement so much.
Linda
Linda, that becomes so clear doesn’t it! Our citizenship is in heaven.
Great reminder, Lisa! This world is not our home, we are just passing through… but we DO have to live through it with its uncertainties. Praise God for His faithfulness. He will direct our paths … just TRUST Him!! Proverbs 3: 5-6. Yay, God !
I love that you are an optimist. Me too! Well, most of the time. We do need to remind ourselves our time here is short. We also know the ending- God wins.
Well said! Great article! 🙂
I was so blessed by this message I had to post it on Facebook, something I rarely do, to encourage others out there that there is a way we can remain optimistic in such an “…Unsafe, Unanchored World” as you so eloquently put it through this article. I too have recently felt overwhelmed by what is going on in this world and concerned about the future of my little toddler BUT I have been reminded that Jesus is our hope and what a great, wonderful and secure hope we have! Praise the Lord!