3:150 – Happiness AND Despair

#faithbites #faithjourney despair

Turn on the news and it’s bleak. Protests, death, and more. There isn’t much happiness to look at. Right now, I’m choosing to try to be happy. It’s not easy. Each time, I started to write this, I began to go into darker items more in the realm of despair. All of the topics that flood my news and social media feed are dark. It’s making me angry. It makes me want to do something but what can I do? I’ve realized that I can be angry and acknowledge my blessings. I can know that I am blessed AND can do something about it.

I may not have control over what is going on in the world. I can focus on what is in my power. My interactions with people around me and how I raise my children. This is what I can do to change the world. Hate only brings hate. Love even against hate, will win. It won’t be easy, but through faith and Jesus, it can happen.

Scripture

• Ephesians 4:26-27 – “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  and do not give the devil a foothold.
• Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

Reflection

I’m struggling a bit today. The verses aren’t coming as easy nor are the words. My heart is heavy as I see so much violence, hatred, and lack of leadership. I want to scream and be angry. At the same time, I want to remember that God has blessed me, some would say given me privilege, that I can change something. This change won’t happen over night. Heck, since the fall of Adam and Eve, we have been killing and hating each other. Yet, I have faith that through Jesus, we will become one people.

How do we get there? We show love and forgiveness. We look at it from someone else’s point of view. Above all, we realize that we are not always right. Our opinions, while we are entitled to them, may be wrong. Our actions, while we meant them in a good way, may be wrong. Only through love, forgiveness, and never giving up can we help others. Do onto others as they’d have done to them. This isn’t in the Bible, but it helps us to see that what we think is a right and good way to be treated, may not work. Help others as they want to be helped.

I leave you tonight with love and pain in my heart. Know that God is with you and when we turn it over to him, he will bring us through.

Challenge

Vent. Find a way to explore your feelings. It’s not one or the other. We are complex people with complex emotions. Search your feelings and find out why you feel that way. Share them with a confidant.

Prayer

Lord God, my words are failing tonight. I have a heavy heart but know that I am blessed. Help me to find the words to describe my emotions. Be with those who have lost their lives due to senseless violence caused by those who are meant to protect us. Help those who are outraged find a path through you to peace and a new way of doing things. This isn’t how you want us to live Lord. Let us live in peace through you. In your name, Amen.