If you are experiencing anxiety right now (and any person with common sense would), it is not weakness. If anything, it attests to mental strength. But there is a better way to handle that ability. I’ve helped a lot of people overcome depression, but anxiety is a different sort of evil. It starts with a meme or an idea that takes over the soul. While it starts in the mind, it can and will pollute every other aspect of your being, emotions, body, even spirit.
The only real and lasting antidote for anxiety is to change your thoughts. I should know, I have had to fight this fight all my life. I’m here to tell you that I have won that war, though there are sometimes skirmishes. I never took meds for it, but if you have, it may be necessary, no worries. The main thing however is this: whatever the thing is that you are focusing on that is causing the anxiety, find the thing that is true regarding that same issue, and focus on it instead.
But Danyelle, you say, I keep hearing more and more facts about election fraud, the Biden/Harris actions, not to mention concealed historical crimes against the US and other countries, insane and horrific slaughter of innocent people in China, Iran, Syria, religious persecution on my job. Meanwhile, many respected preachers are saying this is the end! I can’t be anything but a mess!!!
Listen, sibling, I applaud you for doing your research in the areas of public policy and politics. I’ll try to write another blog soon listing the many alt media sites that I have found, as it is important to be informed!
The real issue is not that our country is in chaos, that you may be being targeted, or even that this could mark the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but how to handle all the information and all this change!
First: Don’t hide from it. Denying the truth is worse than being upended by it. Think of how the early believers’ lives were totally changed. And yet many, most people who had been healed by Jesus turned their back on Him. No, I think I’ll go back to my safe little life, they said. Actually, it turned out not to be so safe.
Second: Take a break from it. Many of these apps automatically queue notifications to your phone. Find a way to stop this. You can mute your phone but you will still see them. I have stopped phone notifications, making sure to log in at times when I am ready to take in more information. I pray about and schedule when I will do this. This is information that brings pain, grief and outrage, or it should. You must be ready when you are reading it.
Third: Ready yourself! Start with worship, the Word, and the knowledge that God is greater than all the machinations of evil minds. You didn’t sign up for Jesus thinking this life was all there is. Keep eternity in mind. Listening to encouraging sermons from before the virus took over is also a very good idea. Find scriptures that become a living word to your spirit, and listen to the Holy Spirit. Use worship music to remember His goodness and protection upon you. Psalm 91 is also great for this, John 14, there are many others. All of this will arm you, shield you, protect you. As you pray, speak forth that truth and justice will be done. Then follow the leading of the Spirit for your own life. Respect also that others may have a different call.
Fourth: There is something all of us can do regardless of your calling. Take a stand for truth and justice. Boycott all lying media. Boycott Chinese-made goods. Get off of Facebook, Twitter, Google and Apple to the degree that you can. Amazon Prime, cancel it! You don’t have to storm Washington, but you can do this. Before you tell me I’m being extreme, realize this: Every time you log on, tune in or give attention to those sites, you give revenues to proven criminals and traitors participating in human trafficking and child sex rings and covering for those who do. If using a social media site is critical to your ministry or business, you have many other options. I hope to blog soon about my own migration from those disgraceful media outlets to ones that are doing a much better job and with integrity.
Listen, Pray, and Stand. Inform yourself, turn your outrage into determination, your fear into courage, your anxiety to proactive calm. As you move from anxious reactivity to responding, you will find yourself able to listen more, observe more, and possibly say something that will help someone else to become informed.