For much of 2008, I imposed a news blackout on myself. I stopped reading the news online. I stopped watching the news on television (that was easy, because I rarely watched it anyway). I stopped listening to talk radio. I stopped reading the newspaper.
And I felt so much better! Less worried. Less fearful. Less anxious.
Over time though, like an addict looking for a fix, I began going online to read the news again and before I knew it, I was hooked again.
And I’m feeling the effects. Worry. Fear. Anxiety. Quite a powerful recipe for stealing my joy and peace.
I don’t know what the news does to you, but I can’t take any more. The health care debate. Terrorism. The war in Afghanistan. The budget deficit. The unemployment rate. Nuclear weapons in Iran.
What’s on your list? AIDS in Africa? The devastation in Haiti? Homelessness? The crime rate in your city?
The list could be endless.
Now I’m not suggesting we all stop caring or become apathetic about important current events, but I’m imposing a news blackout on myself again. Starting now.
There’s just very, very little I can do about most of what worries me. Yes, I can vote or call my senator or give money to relief organizations. All good things, by the way. But I just cannot continue to follow all of these issues on a daily basis.
It might not be the right thing for you. Perhaps God is impressing on you to not only be informed about one or more of these issues, but to call attention to them. If so, then do it well.
On the other hand, maybe you need to join me. Turn it all off for awhile. Stop flooding your mind with news and information that leads to an avalanche of negative emotions.
Instead, maybe you and I need to replace our news consumption with more time in God’s word and in prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 says:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Instead of filling my mind with fear-producing news, I pray, so instead of feeling anxious, I experience peace.
Never forget, when we pray, we’re talking to the One who holds all of this in His hands, to the only One who really knows how to fix the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. And remember, if you know Christ, the good news is this: you’re on the winning team. It doesn’t matter that it looks like you’re hopelessly behind or the game is over. Relax. Your team wins in the end.