We’ve all heard the saying “take it one day at a time.”
It’s said SO often – especially to those of us who worry about a lot of things. The most overused response I get to my anxiety is, “just take it one day at a time.” We hear it so many times that eventually we start to get numb to it.
But I’m gonna talk about it again today.
(sorry, I know you’re tired of hearing it)
As soon as I turn my phone on and open up social media, I’m bombarded by overseas terror, political parties attacking each other, new bills being passed that are causing uproar, neighbors over-reacting to shared posts and calling each other racist – within five minutes I’m tired of social media and I’m tired of people.
The world feels so heavy today.
I start to wonder how things are ever going to get better. I start to worry for my children, and the world they’re growing up in. I start to spiral into thoughts and anxiety that do nothing for my mental health, but they’re thoughts I feel obligated to think because, well, they’re so heavy and pressing.
I take a deep breath, and I step back from the fighting and the negativity, and I realize…things aren’t going to get better.
That’s great input, right? But hear me out.
This side of heaven, things aren’t going to REALLY get better. The climate of the world ebbs and flows – some days are calmer than others, but there is always war and there will always be war. There is always fighting about something, somewhere – and as long as people are imperfect, there will always be fighting. There is not much we can do about the actions of others or the presence of evil, this side of heaven.
But what we can do, is take it one day at a time – and control what we let into our space, and protect our peace.
Staying up with current events comes at a cost. In this technological age, we are overwhelmed with information – information that, 50 years ago, wouldn’t have gotten to us until far after the event had already taken place. I won’t argue against being aware of what’s happening in the world, but I encourage you to filter your information. Control what you see and hear. Limit your news input. Limit your social media interactions. Protect your peace and your state of mind.
Find a reputable news source (read: unbiased) and only take your updates from there. Remain present and enjoy the time you have at work, or with your family, or with yourself.
Take it one day at a time. One minute at a time if you need to.
We know that God remains in control, and all powerful – even when the world seems to be falling apart. We know that He has a plan (which we would love to know) – and His timing is perfect.
We also know that there is – and has always been – a fight between the light and the darkness, and there will continue to be a fight between the two until Jesus comes again.
So until then, we must cling onto the hope we find in Jesus – knowing we have nothing to prove today; we can rest knowing that we are fully known, fully loved, and fully understood by Him.
We have no obligation to prove ourselves today, God already understands us.
We have no need to argue with anyone today, God knows our hearts and only He has the power to influence anyone else’s.
We have no requirement to read up on current events today if they aggravate our anxiety – because we know who holds the future, and regardless of what’s happening in the world – we know who wins.
Maybe tomorrow we can venture back online and take another peek at the news…but until then, for today – we’re gonna take it one day at a time and rest in this peace.
Set aside that heaviness today, and move forward with your day knowing that you’ve got this, and God’s got you.
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