Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
Have you ever stopped watching the news because it’s just too depressing?
A woman living in South Africa felt the same. Gunfire had punctured her peace throughout the night, the taxis were on strike again, and she’d been unable to work for three weeks due to the violent protests. It was exhausting and stressful getting through another day of strife and instability.
The despair that comes with an onslaught of bad news is a heavy weight. But God has given us a secret weapon called prayer! Prayer allows us to shake off the burden of worry, fear, and sadness, replacing them with hope.
It’s absolutely ok to tell God how badly you’re struggling. He invites us to tell Him what we’re anxious about, pouring out our sadness and concerns. The Bible says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (I Peter 5:7). Part of the reason prayer is so powerful is because it starts with God meeting us in our sadness over injustice, pain, and problems. He feels these emotions too. But God also has hope to give us and power to move in ways we never could!
When we pray, God doesn’t leave us stuck and depressed. Our powerless despair melts away as we ask God to take control of the situation. Scripture tells us that God’s Holy Spirit actually helps us express ourselves as we pray (Romans 8:26-27). You’ll soon find yourself shifting from lamenting to bravely asking for God’s goodness to prevail.
God wants to move in your situation as you bring it to Him in prayer. Psalm 94:19 says, “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Shake off the newsfeed through conversation with God.
