How do we seek understanding when the world around us spins in chaos? Listening to the news, hanging out on social media, and general public discourse can cause anxiety. There are times when I only watch the news only for the weather forecast. And I’ve blocked people on social media because it simply makes my head heart and heart ache.
Unfortunately, it will only get worse, as Jesus revealed to us in Matthew 24:6. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” (NIV) Christians are being persecuted for their beliefs. People are dropping out of the church. People hate each other, and crime and murders are rampant. Don’t you just want to close your eyes and ears to make it all disappear?
As believers, how do we overcome this anxiety and understand everything that’s going on around us? Do we hide in a closet and await the return of Jesus?
First, as believers, we should be prayerful instead of anxious. This is a very difficult thing to do because we are bombarded 24×7 with information. The Apostle Paul was clear in his letter to the Philippians that we must be praying and petitioning the Lord… instead of being anxious. Our reward will be the peace of God which transcends all understanding. Proverbs 4:1 instructs us to pay attention and gain understanding. But, we need to guard our hearts and minds.
Secondly, we need to be bold for the Kingdom. Each of us has a God-given talent that we need to be using to reach others about the Good News. Hiding away in a closet won’t make the world less chaotic. Being a witness for Jesus has its earthly consequences. You may alienate your family and friends who are embedded in this world. You may be banned from social media. Your business could get shut down.
William Wolfe wrote an Op-ed on the Christian Post site just last month entitled “Yes, Christians are being persecuted in America.” Jesus told us we would be hated for His name. The writer of Hebrews reminded the early Christians of what they faced for being associated with Jesus. Again, we must seek understanding (wisdom) as to what transpires.
In James 1:5, we read: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” In this context, the Greek word for wisdom is σοφία (sophia). It means skill, insight, and intelligence. It is the root of the English terms “sophistication” and “philosophy.” Literally the art of using or having an affection for wisdom.
Strong’s Greek dictionary explains the word ‘understanding’ in this way. It is the mental effort needed to reach a conclusion. As children of God, we all have the moral responsibility to lead our lives for Christ. We are all responsible for every decision we make. Therefore, seeking understanding by praying, studying Scripture, and guarding our hearts and minds against this world is paramount.
Featured image: Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash
Today’s post was written by Jyll Stuart. You can read more about Jyll on our Guest Author page.
Definitely a word for today’s world.