Day 11 – He is Good

I was having a conversation with a friend at a coffee shop this past week. We meandered through a slew of topics as we shared about life and talked about our current daily doings. She has been fasting social media for Lent and while she still pops on to check up on work media she has had to resist the urge to scroll with leisure. She said that it was “weird not knowing what was going on in the world out there” that hearing second hand about Fergie’s jazz rendition of The National Anthem, Billy Graham’s death, and the debate over gun control has been a strange experience.  Since she wasn’t seeing it over and over during the scroll she hadn’t really given these things much thought and her emotions were not affected the way others had been. What she had to say really captured the impact social media has had on our lives and general well being. She also said that “social media is good because it get’s us out, beyond our own backyard. Yet it is not good because it gets us out of our own backyard.” Social media can create a situation where we pay entirely too much attention to what is going on in the world and that causes us to miss life right here, right now in front of us. It also allows us to be entirely way to nosey and opinionated toward people and situation we aren’t a part of, but because we are able to observe it through social media we make it our business and it creates a lot of undue stress and anxiety! Things that are not in our own backyard are out of our control for the most part and it leaves us with a lot of emotion but nowhere to create solutions.  Jesus knew this when he gave us multiple sets of scripture about anxiety, fear, worry, and doubt. Having so much knowledge about what is happening can cause us to worry about if grocery stores will run out of goods because climate change is destroying the world, or if the water supply will be contaminated, or worse yet if I will look ridiculous because I am not wearing the latest styles.

Matt 6:31-34 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

In Matthew 8:20 Jesus said: “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus didn’t have a home of His own to lay His head but He did not worry! He lived like a homeless man and traveled about doing good to those who have nothing and more. He did not fear that He would starve. He simply asked His Father to provide, then He would bless little sack lunches and feed thousands. Why didn’t He fear, worry, doubt, or live a life of anxiety? Because He knew that God was good! It is the very nature of God to give and to do good. In another little convo with a friend, he said quoting someone else “if it isn’t good you know it ain’t over!” Why? God promises to work all things for the good to those who love Him. We don’t have to worry about tomorrow, God is already there! -Tweet This! 

PRAYER: Father,  help me to get my nose about of other peoples backyards. Help me to remember that You are working and doing good even in the middle of the worst situations. I can trust You to create solutions in the world. I don’t have to worry about it. You got this!

Do you find yourself worried about all these things going on in the world? Listen to how you speak about what you have read or listened to on social media. Do you need a detox break from social media? Maybe you don’t know how it affects you because you haven’t ever stopped the inflow. Put down your phone and press into the One who is able to work it all for good.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla