Do you ever feel like you’re overdosing on reality? The daily news brings horrifying scenes of tragedy from around the world.  Problems that seem unsolvable are everywhere. Incivility is on display, and reason seems in short supply.

Christians feel called to try to make a difference in whatever ways we can, but with frequent natural disasters and “man’s inhumanity toward man”, it’s easy to suffer from compassion overload. I give when and where I can. I pray about these situations.  I step in when I need to.

But sometimes I want to escape into a good novel or movie.  I want to look away before I become numb to the pain of others.  

There is a restlessness within all of us.  Although we appreciate the beauty of this world and the blessings that the Lord has shared with us, we are painfully aware that things are not as they ought to be.  Our world is fallen – corrupted and in disrepair. 

In our hearts we know there’s got to be something better.

The Bible says that God put that sense of holy discontent within our hearts.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has made everything fitting in its time, but has also placed eternity in their hearts, without enabling them to discover what God has done from beginning to end.” 

This sense of eternity is our hope, in spite of our dissatisfaction and lack of understanding. This hope of something better to come is our shield against despair.

We live in the tension between “it is what it is,” and “this is not the way it’s supposed to be.”  We ask “why?”  God says “just wait.” We don’t understand, but we hope, because we trust in the Everpresent One and His promises.

Prayer:  Eternal Father, I believe You are still in charge, in spite of what I see around me.  Let me not look away from the suffering of others.  Use me where I can help. I know that You are still working all things out for our good. In the mighty Name of Yeshua/Jesus, who is Salvation.      Amen.

Shalom, Dottie