Peace family, how do you deal with it when you are surrounded by negativity? How can we successfully hold onto the joy and peace of the Lord when the words and actions of people around us make us feel scared, hurt, and even angry?
Perhaps you work or live with someone who continually complains or brings up negative subjects that tire you out, dampen your day, or even bring you anxiety. (I’m not talking about someone working through or addressing a problem; it’s also bad when people deny that any problems exist. I am talking about continual complaining, negative comments, and even sarcasm, especially if they are about things that are not related to you and are completely out of your control.) I know that for me personally, just the right negative news story or interaction can really sap my energy, or even send me into a tailspin of worry and negative feelings for the rest of the day.
Peace family, no matter what yuckiness (and even evil) is going on around you or in the world, God is still with you. Once you believe in Christ, he puts his Holy Spirit inside of you, and you can still talk to God in those situations. You might feel isolated from the people around you, but you can be confident that God knows how you feel and what you think, and will not abandon you.
The Bible has several verses about God and his truth preserving and protecting you. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul refers to our Faith in Christ as a shield, to protect us from the fiery darts of the enemy. Psalm 91:4 says about God, “He will cover you with his feathers , and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”(NIV) Having faithfulness means He is loyal and trustworthy, and a rampart is the defensive wall of a castle or city, which keeps invaders out and protects the life inside. God protects the life inside of you! Meanwhile, Psalm 40:11 says, You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.” (NASB) We must understand and believe His love for us, and know the truths of the Bible, because those are two of God’s qualities that will preserve us, no matter how topsy-turvy anything else gets.
Peace family, every day, a spiritual battle is going on around you, but you are on the winning side. Remember, and do not let the slime encrust you. Let God’s words protect your heart, and praise him in your heart, no matter how dark the circumstances are around you. If this is a struggle for you, I encourage you to memorize some of the verses that address God’s protection of you. I know that those have made a big difference in my life, especially Psalm 40:11.
You must be logged in to post a comment.