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There is so much happening in the world right now, and everywhere we turn, there is a new problem. A natural disaster, a horrible crime, a frightening or fear-filled headline.
What are we supposed to do with it all?
I don’t always know what we’re supposed to do with it all, but I can tell you what we aren’t supposed to do – carry it all.
We are not made to carry the weight of it all.
We are not made to know all of the terrible things that are happening all over the world.
We are not made to have the news in our ears and in front of our faces all day long.
We were not created to absorb all the information that we have access to each day.
We are not made to worry, be afraid, or be anxious about situations out of our control.
There are so many situations in the world right now that we have zero control over. We cannot possibly pour our energy and attention into all of them, while also caring for our families, our homes, and the specific tasks we have been called to do.
Choosing to pour your attention into your home and your family does not mean that you’re pretending everything is fine. It doesn’t mean that you don’t care. It means that you ARE caring – for the people and situations the Father has entrusted to you.
The things we do in our homes – caring for our kids, educating them, preparing meals, changing diapers, praying and interceding for the broken world around us – these things all matter for eternity. And they help to change the trajectory of generations. When we pour into our children, we are pouring into our children’s children and our children’s children’s children and generations beyond that.
Sometimes there are practical things we can do to help when bad things happen around the world – we can give money, we can support organizations that help, we can donate practical items or donate our time. Sometimes, there is nothing practical to do, and all we can do is pray.
So we turn it off. We say no to constantly consuming more and more information. We say no to always being aware of the bad things happening everywhere. We say no to 24 hour news cycle and constant distraction from our homes and our families.
Turning off the news is not an act of ignorance, but an act of kindness – to yourself and to your family.
You are not burying your head in the sand when you turn off the TV or put away your phone. Instead, you are loving your family and showing up for them. You are caring for your mental health. You are acknowledging that you are a human and you were not made to carry all the burdens.
When the world is filled with bad news and it all feels heavy, set boundaries around what you take in each day:
- Choose your news sources wisely – if you know that a news sources is going to be inflammatory or fear-mongering, don’t listen to it! Find a more neutral source or one that gives a fact (not fear) based account of events. World Watch News is a great source for news from a Biblical worldview that you can watch with your kids.
- Read or watch one account of an event instead of multiple
- Read a summary of the news or an event, instead of all the details
- Give yourself a certain amount of time consume news and media, and then turn it off when you hit that time limit
- Don’t follow social media accounts that get you riled up or post news from a heavily biased and one-sided point of view
- Get the highlights from a trusted person – like your husband or a good friend – who doesn’t get as emotionally impacted by news; but don’t get the highlights from someone who will drive more fear or anxiety in you about what’s happening in the world
- Pray before and after you watch or read about the news
- Fill your mind with things that true, right, and lovely more than what isn’t. (Philippians 4:8)
- Don’t allow yourself to get in a spiral of worry, fear, and anxiety
If we let ourselves get bogged down by the heaviness of the world, our families and our homes and our mental health will suffer.
Give to the Lord the burdens He hasn’t asked you to carry.