We live in a time of continuing political chaos. We need to be able to find a place of peace in the middle of it. I think we could all use some help for life.
This week it’s the Roger Stone story. Next week it will be something else, no doubt. Every week, and sometimes every day, brings a new political hassle. How are we supposed to live in times of such turmoil, anxiety, and anger?
I thought to look at the movies that were the biggest hits in 2019. Almost all of them are comic book movies or cartoons. What that says to me is that people need an escape. Real life is just too tense from day to day, and we need something that will help us forget and take the edge off. In addition, though, in these movies we can have real heroes with real integrity, unlike what we’re seeing around us in real life.
Here are 3 suggestions to help us get through it.
- Real life will never match up to your ideal. You need to find your peace in Jesus, not your circumstances. If you think your life will every just come to a place of peace and tranquility, I happen to think you’re sadly mistaken. It’s just too chaotic out there, with mostly the trajectory of getting even worse. We have to learn to moor our boat to a different dock, and that dock is Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 11, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened. I will give you rest.” He also said in the Gospel of John that He can give real peace, nothing like what the world can give.
- Change the conversation. By that I don’t mean talk about baking instead of politics. Instead I mean that our culture right now is grinding with a spirit of complaint. Oh, and there’s plenty to complain about. But if we live that way, we just increase our anger and the anger of others, and we increase our anxiety. So instead of a spirit of complaint (which is so easy to do), we need to change the conversation by saying things that build up. Ephesians 4 tells us to say things that help rather than tear down, things that are positive rather than crude or just complaining. Complaining, even though it’s an outlet and can even be a little therapeutic, just makes us more miserable. Leave that behind and change the conversation.
- Be change agents. All of these events swirling around us are changing us, but not for the better. Instead of letting them change us, we need to be the ones who exert influence. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold; instead, we need to be a positive force on our world. In the Old Testament, the temple had to be protect so that it wasn’t defiled with impurity. When Jesus came, he didn’t worry about defilement. Instead, He reversed the flow. When he came in contact with sin, evil, or impurity, His touch healed, cast out, cleansed, and forgave. Instead of becoming defiled, He because an agent of godliness in the dark world. So don’t let these miserable circumstances change who you are and how you think (though everything influences). Instead, create distance from the anxiety and be an agent for positive change.