Have YOU been nuked?

 

“You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust the sails.” 

  Many of the high costs of the pandemic and political chaos aren’t physical, they’re emotional and spiritual. No one, no age group, economic segment, gender, or religious faction has been immune from the stress and emotional angst taking place today. Often, when we encounter volatile reactions and responses, we wrongly assume that we’re the cause – that it’s us, that we caused it or it has something to do with us. It often doesn’t. A great temptation is to “fight fire with fire” which is another poor choice. 

  A vast majority of the problems in your circle of life – work, neighborhood, community, even family – have nothing to do with you. The anger, complaints, and griping that you face often have little to do with you. Yes, people are very upset, but if you drill a little deeper, you may discover that there are other factors at work. They’re struggling at work, or in their marriage or other relationships. They’re under tremendous stress or battling addiction or just really down on themselves. Add the health crisis and people are struggling deeply with stress, unlike anything most have ever encountered. No wonder they’re on edge. Under that kind of stress when people feel their lives and world are out of control, the anger will often come out somewhere. Personal encounters are an easy target.

  In the same way, that road rage is rarely about what happens on the road, being nuked is often not about what’s happening in the moment. The guy who barely cut you off just bore the full weight of your unresolved issues in that moment. While it doesn’t make the anger go away, it can help us empathize more and take it a lot less personally. 

  In general people are more anxious, depressed, and traumatized than at any point in recent history. Study after study has found that people are experiencing more mental and emotional health issues than before the pandemic. Up to half show serious signs of depression. A large percentage struggle with anxiety. Many meet the criteria for clinical mental health problems: depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This fuels poor sleep patterns, creating a vicious cycle. Sleeplessness accelerates mental health issues.  

  Loneliness and isolation contribute to raw emotions. Stay-at-home orders, remote work, the roller coaster of virtual or in-person learning, along with social distancing have left many feeling very isolated. Nearly 1 in 7 adults said that they were often lonely during the past year. Those who are younger or who live alone, or who have a chronic health condition, are lonelier than other groups. One study found that almost two-thirds of those under 30 had high levels of loneliness.

  Christians are not immune from any of these issues BUT…All of us have struggled with these varied emotions during the past year. I know I have. Yet, we have something that those who don’t know the Lord don’t have – hope. Our hope isn’t from science or government. Our hope is in our sovereign God! Our hope is in King Jesus!

  As we study Scripture, we find example after example of individuals and groups who went through much worse struggles than we’re currently experiencing. Peruse Hebrews 11 for a testament of this. In 2 Corinthians 6, the Apostle Paul unpacks his many trials and suffering, yet he shares hope and gives us the solution given to him by the Lord, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Our Heavenly Father is not surprised by any of this and He is in complete control of it all, even when it appears everything is out of control.

  We must not surrender to fear. Some form of the phrase “fear not” occurs well over a hundred times in the Bible. Fear is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7). And ultimately, what do we have to fear. The worst that can happen to a believer is that they die, but we know that when we close our eyes in this life, we open them in glory and eternity!

  We must be cautious with anger. Anger is like dynamite. It can be useful and has an appropriate place, yet it must be handled with caution because it can have disastrous results when it’s not. Ephesians 4:26-27 warns us: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Yet there are Christians living in a constant state of rage. Listen to them talk. Watch their posts on social media. They’re in a very dangerous place and they are not pleasing God.

  God’s Word never says, “blessed are the angry.” It does say, “Blessed are the meek…Blessed are the merciful…Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:5-9). The reason many lack God’s blessing on their lives is that they’re living in a sinful, emotional state where God can’t bless them.

  By God’s grace we must persevere. God did not promise us an easy life. Our lives are certainly better when we come to Christ, that though does not mean life will be easy. In fact, in some ways, it could be even more difficult. We now have a vicious Enemy. Our worldview doesn’t line up with the temporal one of this age and that brings conflict.

  When you commit yourself to Christ, it’s a lifetime commitment, regardless of whatever trials or persecution you face along the way. As a Christian, you’re called to set your face forward and towards the goal. What will get us through all of this is that we know that we are not alone and we know that we have our Father’s infinite source of strength and power available to us. Even the very worst of this life is temporary.

  Why try? Why persevere? I love the answer to that question given by the great painter, Renoir. In old age, this great French painter suffered from arthritis, which twisted and cramped his hand. Henri Matise, his artist friend, watched sadly while Renoir, grasping a brush with only his fingertips, continued to paint, even though each movement caused stabbing pain. Matise asked Renoir why he persisted in painting at the expense of such torture. Renoir replied, “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.”

  Why must we keep on pushing ahead in our commitment to the Kingdom of God, why must we seek to be Christlike even when it costs us dearly? Because “the pain passes, but the beauty remains” and it remains forever!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.