Life in an Uncertain World (and What to Do About It)

Life in an Uncertain World (and What to Do About It) December 3, 2015

Last night, Mom and I came home from the grocery store to find my back door swinging open. When we left, I had watched her lock and close it with my own eyes, so I was a little bit stumped – and unnerved – at why it might be open. The house appeared undisturbed. The door wasn’t damaged and there wasn’t any other evidence of forced entry. Still, an open door never makes me feel too welcome.

With arms full of groceries, we jumped back in the car and I called Andrew, thinking (hoping!) the door may have been ajar because he came home while we were out and didn’t get it locked well. But no such luck.

Given the fact that I’m writing this, you’ve probably gathered that all was well. We came to the conclusion that we simply didn’t get the door shut all the way, but given two recent shootings (one of which we had just heard reports on before we left for the store), I admit we were on guard more than usual.

These shootings are nothing new. I question why they’re happening so frequently, and though I don’t have all the answers, I know this: the answer is multifaceted: extreme Islamists, mental health issues, psychiatric drugs (over-prescribed!), and of course the “only evil continually” heart of man. These all play a part in what we are seeing flash across our screens like foreign tales – things that shouldn’t be taking place on our soil. No, we are the country that has it all together. We help others. We do not need help. We have our stuff together. We are the greatest, strongest country on the planet. We are where everyone else comes to “live the dream.”

What is this “dream” we so often speak of? Try and step out of our borders. If looking from afar, what would we see that would make us want to be here more than any other country?

The answer to that, in the past, has been freedom of religion, speech, etc. But what about now? What are people seeing in us that would make them want to come here? And what do they see about solutions that we can’t see ourselves?

Some days, I feel the “land that I love” dying before my eyes. And I ask … what can I do? What does an every day housewife/writer do about mass shootings, the terror of Islam, the beginning of Christian persecution, and a lackadaisical leader?

There will always be practical measures I can take: write my Congressman, learn to protect myself and others, stock up on every day material needs in case … in case what? A second civil war? The government decides Christians and/or Jews should be exterminated? What is practical and what is insanity talking? Is it insanity, or is it prudence coupled with a realistic realization that all we have may come to an end because of our country’s stubborn, rebellious heart?

I don’t read anything in Scripture that instructs us to spend enormous amounts of time, energy, and money on self-protection, self-care, and self-preservation. Practical measures are okay, in moderation. But what I mainly hear in Scripture is this:

Occupy until Jesus comes. And we do that by:

-Prayer.

-Making disciples.

-Caring for widows and orphans.

-Whatever else we think God might be calling us to through Micah 6:8.

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Life, like my experience coming home last night, can be nerve wracking. Scary. Fear-full. That’s why we’ve got to focus and keep the main thing the main thing. We can’t afford to cower in fear, because fear takes large portions of time and energy that could be used for the valiant, kingdom work God has called us to.

So sure, we can do whatever necessary to feel reasonably safe and prepared, come what may, while living within our monetary means. But more importantly, we should keep on keepin’ on for the cause of Christ. Stay the course. And if there are only three words we take away from this post, let it be these:

Onward, Christian soldiers.


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