I read a devotion this week, reminding me to set boundaries on what my heart can handle. This year, I’ve been reading a daily devotional, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, which I LOVE! I will share what was written -
The media relentlessly proclaim bad news: for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A steady diet of their fare will sicken you.
There are many negative things happening in our world right now. Some make me angry, some make me cry, and some just bewilder me. Some, maybe even most, news broadcasts try to sprinkle in a positive story during their hour, but in most cases, the negative drowns out the good.
My heart can only handle so much. I believe it is important to know what is happening around you, but know your heart's limitations on what it can handle.
What do I mean by that? For me, I have to limit what I hear. Have you ever heard a story on the news or found something out for yourself and you couldn’t stop trying to dig deeper to find out as much as you could about that event or story? Only to find the more you dug, the darker it seemed. Affected your mood, and maybe your outlook on life. It started to shift your heart to sadness and doom.
Just writing that, recalling those times, made me feel a shift in my spirit. So what can you do?
Know what your heart can handle and turn the news feed off. Stop Googling to find the details of what happened. Turn off the negative and fill that space with positive.
I am not saying stick your head in the sand and ignore the bad. Instead, turn your worry into prayer. Give it to God. Have FAITH that he is in control and he can bring PEACE.
This can be easier said than done, but if you turn it over to him, he will calm your heart. In the devotional it shares -
Though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, you need not fear!
We have a choice. Do we let the darkness in this world drag us down, or do we turn our worries into prayer and know God’s got this?
The FedEx shooting hit very close to home for me. I have friends who work there and it is in my town. What is my choice?
I pray God will heal the families who lost a loved one.
I pray God will heal and give peace to all who were left behind.
I pray God will give our law makers and leaders the right direction to put things in place to protect us from this happening again.
I put my FAITH in God, knowing he will provide answers and peace.
And I put my FAITH in God, asking him to lead me if there is something I can do to help.
I watch the news enough to know what is happening, but I have to turn it off and turn it over to God for the rest. I know my heart’s limit and what I can handle, and I set this boundary for my own well-being.
Do you know your heart’s limits? Do you honor the boundaries to protect it?
Sending you peace, love and joy, my friend. Sam