Caring for a Despairing World
In the age of instant news, horrendous evils occurring around the world ping into our phones daily. Here, a video shows us the graphic details of the murder of a man. There, an article describes the unthinkable horrors of an entire people facing genocide.
As image-bearers of God, we react to these evils with deep compassion, righteous anger, and grief. And then a little child calls, or a meal requires preparing, or an errand needs running.
In that moment, the lack of control we have over such a broken world can tempt us to feel burdened to the point of despair. We may forget that God is still sovereign and good. We may turn to apathy because the problems are too big and too hard to solve.
We are limited and finite creatures. We have people all around us who require our help. How can we face an outside world that is filled with evil and sorrow? How are we to care?
Cast Your Cares in Prayer
I once heard the story of a strong missionary who carried the gospel through the jungles of Papua was rendered bed-ridden after contracting malaria one too many times. The founder of their well-known missionary society reached out to the missionary to offer encouragement and rebuke: “Do not despise the power of prayer. The elderly woman on her knees in suburbia is just as strong a servant of the kingdom as the man cutting through the jungle with a machete.”
Prayer is powerful because we pray to the God who is sovereign over all that is in the heavens and in the earth. The kingdom is his. He is exalted above all.[1] This mighty God says he hears us when we ask.[2] He tells us to cast all our anxieties on him, because he cares for us.[3] No matter the rampancy of the evil we see, no matter how long the injustice has gone on in society, we can commit it to the God who hears and cares. He hears the cry of the widow, orphan, and sojourner, and will surely hear our cry on their behalf.[4]
Act Properly
As we walk humbly in prayer, we are also to act justly and love kindness.[5] To obey this command requires action, but how should we act out our care? Some of us have little ones who need our constant attention around the clock. Others have very limited financial resources. Others bear debilitating illnesses that require avoiding strenuous labor. How do we know which good works to do?
The crowds once asked Jesus the same question. “And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise’” (Luke 3:11). Though it looks different for everyone, we are to give out of our existing means. It may mean giving the time to equip and advocate for others. It may be laboring to teach little minds well. It may be signing a petition, writing a letter, sending money here, not spending there, or gathering friends together to pray.
In some circumstances, it may look like choosing not to engage in one good deed to faithfully complete another. This can take many forms. For me, it was not staying up late researching knowing a sleep-deprived migraine could prevent me from caring for my toddler the next day. For you, it could take the form of not allowing inappropriate news details to reach little ears or not prioritizing the gratitude of an overseas organization over that of your husband. Even Jesus exercised discernment in his ministry, deciding sometimes to stay and heal the sick and other times to move on to teach in the next town’s synagogue.[6] Much prayer and wisdom are required for us to choose among good deeds.
Recognize also that there is a season for everything: “A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace” (Eccles. 3:4,8). We are all in different seasons with weddings, cancer, newborn babies, and unemployment informing our circumstances. May we recognize the season we are in, and give grace to both ourselves and others. Let us care as each season allows.
Remember the Purpose of Our King
Jesus said, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37b). He later gave his disciples a great commission: to go and make disciples, baptizing, and teaching them.[7] As servants of our King, we must remember his ultimate purpose. While we may not dismiss the hurting world’s cares by merely saying “be warmed and be filled” without action, we must also generously distribute the words of eternal life.[8]
Remember that God saw the same world we see, one filled with evil and despair. He cared. He did something about it. His final solution to the pain and injustice was Jesus Christ. It was the person and work of God himself. There is no better hope, no greater comfort, and no one else more capable of redeeming and transforming evil man. He is able to settle every injustice, to heal every trauma, and to wipe every tear. And he will do it.
While we live as ambassadors on this earth for the kingdom of God, we care, we pray, and we act. As we do so, may we always come to rest and trust in the good news. The dark backdrop of our despairing world makes ever brighter the light of the gospel of Christ.
[1] 1 Chronicles 29:11
[2] 1 John 5:15
[3] 1 Peter 5:7
[4] Exodus 22:21-24
[5] Micah 6:8
[6] Mark 1:29-34
[7] Matthew 28:18-20
[8] James 2:16, John 6:68
