No one likes bad news. When we get bad news our hearts race, our blood pressure goes up, our digestion is disturbed. We get stressed. Stress is bad for our bodies, our minds and our spirit. Bad news and its ensuing stress has become a national past time in America. No longer does the water cooler talk swirl about football, baseball or even the new album that our favorite band or singer just launched. American life now revolves around non-stop bad news call “the news” from around the globe. If there not a shooting in your own town the local news will report on a shooting in another city or even another country.
Lately, “the news” is all about an impending third world war. All the men are contemplating how to prepare to protect their family in case civilization falls. We are inundated with commercials peddling gold. The NRA suggests stocking up on ammunition. With those of us who do not live in boarder areas, I often wonder who we are going to shoot with all this ammunition.
Remember the old twilight zone episoded where the man had built a bomb shelter for himself and his wife. His neighbors had not prepared for the crisis and tried to break in. In the end the crisis was not real and they had only succeeded in exposing their own characters in the panic. None of them really cared about each other. It was all about self-preservation at all cost. I hope that we are not striving for that kind of world.
We falsely believe that if we keep this stress in the forefront of our thoughts it will prepare us for this impending doom. What if all of this is just like the Twilight Zone and it is not real or never actually happens.
When I was in my 30s I knew this church lady who gave me advice that has always helpled me.
“If you are on your road toward God and others are on their way too, you will meet on the road.”
I am not suggesting that we don’t prepare for a rainy day or even disaster. We do need to be prepared for all sorts of things with food, water, shelter, safety. But Jesus reminded us that
“Peaple do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4
Jesus was quoting
“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, not did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 8:3
This is why Jesus is called the bread of life.
Even though it may seem like a waste of time and contrary to our instincts we must prepare ourselves spiritually first. This way that no matter what happens now and in the future our faith and joy will be intact.
“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
Proverbs 28:1
Being prepared spiritually starts with knowing that
“If God is for us who can be against us.”
Romans 8:31
Jesus left us the Holy Spirit as a comforter. It may be shocking to discover that no matter what is happening we have the ability to feel joy, true joy, everlasting joy from our Savior Jesus Christ.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
Let that soak in. “not lacking anything” This is showing that not only should we not be afraid of trials, but we ought to consider them pure joy.
Imagine every time we all felt stress all of us changed it to pure joy! The possibilities would be endless for the Earth.
In Philippians, Paul gives the recipe of how to accomplish this.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 4-7
Don’t bury your head in the sand but add some proverbs into your day to keep your eyes on Jesus.
“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”
Proverbs 26:20
Much of our “news” today is more in the lines of gossip. It is almost impossible to tell what is truth, fiction, or just a sales pitch to sell a product or get a following.
“Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.”
Proverbs 29: 8
When we find ourselves in an outrage. Let’s take it back to the Lord before reacting. Ask yourself if this thing is told to you by someone trying to stir something up? Turn away from anger.
Ask what could the mocker’s motivation be? In ancient times the people had a saying, “All roads lead to Rome.” In the modern world our saying is “follow the money”.
“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.”
Proverbs 28:25
Seek out those who are like minded so you can know who is on that road to God with you.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17
Jesus didn’t tell us to save the world or worry about global politics but instead he focused on what really impacts our lives, our own neighborhood. Let’s build our neighborhood with everyone on the same road to God. Jesus came to free us from all the laws of Moses but left a new law. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we all take care of our neighbors, we all have absolutely nothing to fear.
“Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you — better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.”
Proverbs 27:10
I believe that you are reading this right now because we are on that same road to God together. He has amazing plans for us.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster; to give you a future and a hope.’”
Jeremiah 29:11
Count it as Pure Joy
Our hope is that this Bible study gives you a focus for your mental and spiritual health. It has for us.
We originally distrubuted this blog in hard print in my own neighborhood during Octorber 2023. I hope you print it out and give it to your neighborhood. I’ll meet you on the neighborhood road.
