I didn’t grow up in a home where we talked about politics. I was taught that you keep that to yourself. I can’t even remember ever hearing my parents discuss it in our home as a kid. If I’m being honest, the news and politics tend to be sources of stress for me. I don’t need it in my daily life. Ninety nine percent of the time, whatever is going on is not going to affect me within the next twenty four hours. I have enough in my day to focus on and I would rather devote my mental energy and attention to homeschooling my kids, taking care of my family, and ministry.

This doesn’t mean that I am oblivious. I read the news stories so that I am aware of the things going on in our world. I just choose not to read a million articles about the same thing that are going to leave me feeling like I’m sinking or depressed. I know some people thrive on news coverage and reading every angle of every story. I don’t. I recognize that I don’t and so I protect my mental space by treading water on the surface of the news and not diving in too deep.

Lately (today especially), it feels like I’m being tossed into the deep end with no option to stay on the surface. COVID…. Vaccines…. Death…. Hospital numbers….. Haiti….. Afghanistan…..politics….
Everything feels so heavy right now. Every single day there are new articles and facts and headlines in our faces and they seem to be updating by the second. It can feel suffocating. You know that knot in your stomach, lump in your throat, kinda nauseous feeling… that’s been my evening. I cried my eyes out in the shower and just took it all to Jesus. I mean…. Honestly… what else can I possibly do?!?! He can handle it all. My fears and doubts. Every single worry and issue. I just have to remind myself of what I know to be true-Jesus is not only my peace, but JESUS IS PEACE. The Bible talks about the peace that passes all understanding. Even when it seems like the world is falling apart- believers can have peace. We know that at some point this world as we know it will come to an end, that’s why our faith is in Christ and not this world.

Some verses that have helped me through the last few hours and will certainly continue to be my guide over the next few days/ weeks are…..

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]”‭‭John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.”‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In every scary, unpredictable circumstance that we face or will ever face, God has us. He has peace for us. Take all your thoughts to Him. Pray for our country and world. Pray for hurting people. Pray for persecuted believers all over the world. Don’t lose faith. Stay focused on Jesus. Take a deep breath and rest in His perfect peace. 💜