How to find peace when your news feed is devastating
Doesn’t it feel like there’s a new tragedy happening in the world every time you check your phone? Our news feeds grow bleaker each day. Here are some recent headlines: Children killed in Syria ‘chemical attack’, Dozens Killed As 2 Attacks Target Coptic Christians In Egypt, and Murder-suicide in San Bernardino classroom: ‘He just shot everywhere.’
The list goes on. No doubt, you’ve said prayers for the victims of these horrific acts. You’ve shed tears. Peace alludes you, though, and your news feed seems like nothing more than a death-toll counter.
Is peace even a thing in a world like ours? No, peace is not a thing if you don’t know Jesus. There’s too much heartache. Only those who hear Jesus tell them, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33) can have peace.
On this side of heaven, your news feed isn’t going to change. Tragedy comes. Wars rage. Knowing Jesus, though, changes everything. As we scroll through our news feeds, passed darkness and death, peace is still attainable through Christ.
God grants peace (even when the unthinkable happens)
Evil knows no bounds. Satan does not follow any rules of engagement. The atrocities we read about, and even those we face as realities, are incomprehensible.
Our minds can’t process the magnitude of such hate. One way we can find peace, though, is to give our hearts and minds to God. We don’t have to ask God to help us process the horrors we face. We may never know the answer to our “Why?” We can ask for protection: shielding from worry, so it won’t crush us; guidance through the darkness, so we can see the light.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:7
Even if we found the answers behind the evil acts, we wouldn’t find the peace we long to hold. God grants our desire for tranquility while we face tragedy. When the world around us makes no sense, we can call on his name. In him, we find a calm, real serenity that guards us and surrounds us as we scroll through peril.
Know Jesus isn’t in a holding pattern
Christ is coming back. You can bank on that fact. He isn’t in a holding pattern. The news we read points to his return. God works on our behalf. He knows the when of Christ’s second coming. His plan is ever-progressing.
We should remember ill-news is proof Christ is on his way. It’s not that we should celebrate when bad things happen (Of course not!). But we should take heart knowing that each heart-breaking story we read reminds us of Jesus’ promise to return for his people.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. — Matthew 24:6
As we approach Easter, it is important to remember the events that led up to Christ’s death and resurrection. On the day before the Passover, Jesus and his disciples were eating supper. Jesus talked about many things, including Judas Iscariot’s betrayal and Peter’s coming denial. Bad news. But Jesus tells the disciples:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also,” (John 14:1–3).
Some scholars believe this scripture referred to Christ’s resurrection, to Pentecost, “or even to a coming at the death of believers,” (The New Bible Commentary, Third Edition).
Many believe it specifically refers to Christ’s second coming. No matter the interpretation, Jesus isn’t leaving us behind. He’s no stranger to a devastating news feed. He walked this earth predicting his death and his resurrection.
And because of Jesus, we can know peace. He’s coming. Christ was, is, and always will be the Good News.
