Guiding Scripture: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
As believers, we know that uncertainty is part of life. At the time of this recording, the world is grappling with the spread of the coronavirus, but you can replace that crisis with any other (i.e., election cycles, a job loss, a bear market/other economic problems, etc.). The principles in this episode will still apply.
Jesus told us this would happen, but He also promised to give us everything we need to endure and thrive. Here are some suggestions:
- Trust God and seek Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6).
- Step away from social media and the news.
- Studies show that higher amounts of screen time are related to higher levels of anxiety and depression.
- Try limiting your screen time to certain times of the day, or a certain length of time each day. Avoid checking your phone first thing in the morning or right before bed.
- Meditate on promises in God’s word that apply to your specific situation. A few I’ve been meditating on lately:
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
- Psalm 91
- Isaiah 54:17
- Seek advice from knowledgeable experts.
- For example, if you’re facing a potential job loss, you might take a class on money management or improving your LinkedIn profile.
- Take action to prepare for the future.
- Know the difference between fear, faith and wisdom.
- Fear is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7) and causes us to fixate on our problems, rather than on the God who can solve them.
- Faith is belief in God and His sovereignty, especially concerning things we can’t control (2 Corinthians 5:7) .
- Wisdom is taking action concerning the things we can control (James 1:5).
- Pray and intercede for others, especially in the body of Christ. This is especially powerful to do with other believers.
Action Step: Think about how you’ve been responding to the areas of uncertainty in your life. Be honest. Do your actions align with the strategies you’ve heard in this episode? If not, what changes can you make today to improve your behavior?
Resources:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/digital-world-real-world/202002/anxiety-and-social-media-use