News Worthy

How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Habakkuk 1:2, 3

I used to be a news junkie. I watched television news all the time. Seeing world events transpire was exciting and I felt like I was keeping up with the world. But I found myself feeling overwhelmed by all of the injustice and violence. Sometimes I was frustrated by the small mundane or non-stories that were promoted simply to fill the twenty-four hour network schedule. Then I quit watching. I have not watched the news in a long time. I keep up with world events through online articles so I do not get overwhelmed by the constant barrage of images and opinions, although it is hard to find news that is not skewed by the writer's (or reader's) opinion. I must say I have turned on major network news a few times only to turn it off a minute later.

There are times in my life when I echo Habakkuk's sentiment in these verses. Sometimes it reflects what I see in the world, sometimes it applies to my own life. Many times I cry out to God, asking Him why He does not just fix it. Why do people have to suffer so deeply and for such superficial things? Why can't governments see to serve the people who have placed them in power instead of lording over the ones they promised to protect? I don't know and God has not blessed me with the answer to that age-old question yet. It is confusing to live in a fallen world when we know personally the One who has the power to change it. Just like it is hard to understand why God had to send Jesus to die a horrible death and then be resurrected to save us. God's ways are so far above ours, we cannot possibly understand or fathom what He does or why He does it. So instead of wasting my time asking Him why injustice goes on year after year, century after century, I know what I can do. I can reach out to those people who are hurting, starting with those around me. Jesus wasn't focused on correcting the injustices that were going on around Him, but helping those who were hurting near Him. I must do the same.

God, guide my thoughts so that I don't question your ways, but so that I ask You how I can help our hurting and fallen world. Send me people that I can witness to and show me how You want me to help them. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher