Courage In The Chaos
Some thoughts for followers of Jesus
Dear friends,
The events of the past two weeks have left us all feeling anxious and on edge. We are facing a national crisis, chaos is widespread, and, as followers of Jesus, we must remember our calling and how we are to respond.
It reminds me of something from my childhood that’s etched in my memory. When I was five, my mother took my brother and me to a swimming hole near where she grew up. It was on Eagle Creek outside Estacada, Oregon. On warm summer days, I couldn’t think of a better place to cool off and play at the water’s edge.
Suddenly, everything changed when a boy who had been swimming upstream was carried away by the current. Now, twenty to thirty yards downstream, with his choking cries for help faintly audible, my mother jumped into the water. Swimming, she powered through the current, caught up to the boy, and pulled him from the current onto the shore.
Mom demonstrated strength, confidence, and, most of all, courage. She was my hero.
Right now, we, as followers of Jesus, are facing a test. It’s one that will challenge our strength, endurance, and most importantly, our courage. This isn't a test we can assign to our national or world leaders. They have their own agendas, and yes, we should hold them accountable for their decisions. But let’s imagine that overnight we could start anew—with fresh leadership, new structures of power to curb abuse, and governments built on consensus and cooperation. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Now, consider how divisive we are, our tendency to blame and criticize each other, and the harsh judgments we make.
Then, given our fresh start, would we be any different? Would our outrage, anger, and despair change? Would the idols of pride, my-way-or-the-highway thinking, and short-sighted attitudes shift? Perhaps. Yet history shows our idol factory never shuts down. We would still find other ways to breed distrust, insecurity, and blame others for our current problems. Right now, we face serious moral issues like societal polarization, disinformation, economic inequality, inadequate healthcare for millions, and climate disasters, just to name a few. I believe our sickness and illness are much deeper.
It’s time to examine our hearts and open our minds, to be brave, to do what Jesus taught us, and to let the Holy Spirit inspire us with courage to succeed during these difficult times. Let’s stay practical.
First, put an end to the endless, restless discussions in your mind about the actions or inactions of government officials. Take the initiative to write to them and share your frustrations about the direction our society is heading. When appropriate, participate in protests to voice your concerns. Beyond that, avoid obsessing over their decisions. They have their own agendas, and, yes, they are important. But as followers of Jesus, we have ours. Dwelling on the constant chatter and anxiety about the shortcomings of our political leaders and other influencers only leads to frustration without results.
Second, stop doomscrolling. Spending just 15–20 minutes a day on a high-quality briefing — whether a newsletter or podcast — usually covers the main global stories and key updates. Many mental health guidelines recommend limiting news exposure to about 15–30 minutes daily, either in one sitting or two short sessions. This gives you a better-informed understanding than many who endlessly doomscroll headlines or watch brief video clips. It takes discipline and effort, but the reward is a clearer mind and a more focused heart for what I am about to suggest.
Third, confront your troubled feelings and emotions through prayer. God welcomes our honest, unfiltered emotions, whether positive or negative. However, I believe most of us have never taken the time and discipline to express our feelings openly to God. Speak to God exactly as you feel—confused, afraid, angry, or overwhelmed. Do it out loud. You will be amazed at the difference it makes. Be serious about casting “all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Our Lord is always near the brokenhearted (cf. Psalm 34:8). So turn toward your burdens and lean into them. Name the emotions you carry and allow God to show up there inside your troubled thoughts.
Finally, and possibly most importantly, find people who agree with you and those who disagree on how to heal our brokenness. Last week, we met with friends over lunch and discussed the seriousness of our nation’s problems. We left feeling heard and gained a better understanding of our friends’ feelings and perspectives. It was, however, like an echo chamber because we all shared similar views on the issues. The hardest part for us will be finding others to talk with who may see things differently. But it’s the only way we, as a nation, can heal — by recognizing the wounds we all carry, the different ways we see them, and their solutions.
In our next post, we will share ways to have those conversations. But for now, jump in and be brave. Tell your leaders you’re worried about the direction our country is heading and what you hope they will do about it. Share with them how our government, the government of Christ’s kingdom, operates on principles we hope they will consider (a good place to understand God’s governing policies is the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7).
Let the news you read or listen to enlighten rather than punish you with the constant noise that everything is going to hell. Quickly gather the headlines. And if you want to go deeper on a subject, help the rest of us by sharing what you have learned.
Pray your heart out with urgency, asking God to answer your prayers. Our eyes may not see His kingdom manifest the way we want it to, but what matters most is how it opens us—our hearts and minds—to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God… (Micah 6:8) Remember, you are a follower of Christ who specializes in “the healing of the nations.” (cf Revelation 22:2) Let the healing begin with you.
All for now.
You are loved,
