I don't think I can watch the news anymore.
I was sitting in my living room, unwinding after a hard day of work, when I heard it. Another tragedy. Another shooting. Another act of cruelty that ended with lives lost, families shattered. And in that moment it quietly occurred to me:
"I don't belong here."
Really. I don't. I have been feeling like this more and more lately. The closer I get to God (and I desire to be much closer than I am to Him right now), the more I realize that He is good, and this world is so, so broken. It makes me wonder how anyone who doesn't have the hope of Christ gets through a single day.
Without Jesus, I seriously can't imagine the state I would be in.
"Instead, they were longing for a better country -- a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."
~ Hebrews 11:16
In short, I'm tired of merely existing in this life, and not sharing the tremendous HOPE we have in Christ. I can no longer sit by and watch my friends (or strangers) suffer in this darkness and say nothing.
There is hope.
There is a way out.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
~ Galatians 2:20
+ Talk to me. Where are you at with Jesus? What's your take on our world's present darkness?
I honestly can't even comprehend the amount of awful things that have been happening either. But you're right- we don't belong here. And one day we won't be here anymore. And that's pretty darn encouraging, especially when the news is so awful. Thanks for this fabulous reminder, Erin:)
ReplyDeleteNo problem, chica! It's so important to remember that this place ain't our home, yo.
DeleteI stopped watching the news years ago. It's too depressing. If the news is something big enough that I can do something about then I let word of mouth or social media spread it to me. It gets me down if I watch crime after crime being reported.
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I don't blame you! Social media is basically my news outlet now. I do love reading the newspaper, but sometimes it can be disheartening. :( I wish they would report more happy news!
DeleteWow, I feel this so much. It is a broken world we live in, and it hurts to see it going on and feel so powerless to help. I liked your point about how the closer you get to God, the more you find you don't belong. That's something I've been thinking about recently - I mean, did Jesus belong when He was here? Didn't He suffer because He felt the pain others were going through? Should we be surprised when wrongs and sin hurt? I guess that's just where my thoughts have been; sorry for rambling away here. :)
ReplyDeleteBut yes, there is a Way. Your enthusiasm for sharing His hope is inspiring too - you've encouraged and blessed me through this post.
Jesus definitely didn't belong -- great point! And no worries. I love long comments :) Share your thoughts, yo! Thanks so much for the kind words. ^_^
DeleteIt's so easy to forget that this world is not our home, but we should be pressing closer and closer to God, setting our sights on things above, seeing just how much this world truly needs God. This is not our home, and it's hard to see all the cruelty and sin that can exist whilst such a perfect and good God exists, but it is just a testament to how merciful He is that He would forgive the very ones who were born into the cruelty and sin. He is our home, and our hope. :) Awesome post.
ReplyDeleteI know, sometimes I DO forget...I have to constantly refocus, it feels. I love that -- "He is our home and our hope." Well put! Thanks for your radical comment!
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