Maybe, like me, you’ve been feeling a mixture of emotions lately—anger, frustration, sadness, shock, and even bewilderment. The news (and sometimes our everyday lives) can feel saturated with hatred, lies, and demonic actions that leave us unsettled. It can feel overwhelming.
We live in a broken world. That reality is nothing new, but that reality seems to become more apparent with each passing day. So, what are we to do? How do we respond when we feel helpless or when we don’t know where to turn?
This week I want to motivate you to allow the tragedies and chaos of our world to sharpen your focus, not scatter it. Let them push you closer to our ultimate goal of Heaven.
Eyes on Jesus
When the world tempts you to despair, strive to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Remember that He has already conquered the darkness! Choose to love, even when it costs you something. Love others even when it’s hard and even when it hurts. Love when you disagree, when you are misunderstood, rejected, or hated for standing in the truth. Not all of us will be called to pay the ultimate price of discipleship with our very lives, but every one of us is called to die to self each day. We are called to carry our crosses with fidelity, to forgive when it feels impossible, to hope when hope seems lost, and to cling to Christ when the world says to let go.
No matter your vocation (whether you are a priest, religious, mother, father, single, etc.) you are called to follow Jesus. You are called to holiness. You are called to be a saint. That’s not a suggestion. That’s our mission.
Yes, giving into the noise can be tempting. It can be tempting to rant about the insanity of our world to fight fire with fire. However, our call is different. Instead of reacting rashly and harshly, we are called to be brave. Christ calls us to be brave enough to pick up our cross and follow Him. He calls us to bravely rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, drawing on His gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
Let’s be clear on this: righteous anger has its place. Even Jesus showed anger when it was rooted in love and truth. Let’s make sure our anger flows from love and not hatred, from truth, not vengeance, and from a desire to help win souls over for Christ and not for destruction.
How Can You Respond to the Evil Around You?
Here’s the real question: how can we respond to the evil around us? Maybe the answer is not as complicated as we think. Maybe it’s small acts of faith repeated faithfully.
- Commit to daily prayer, even when it feels dry and even when you don’t feel particularly motivated.
- Attend Mass one extra day a week beyond Sunday.
- Pray the Rosary with your family (daily if possible).
- Offer a kind word, a helping hand, or an encouraging smile to someone who needs it.
- Make a conscious effort to serve your family with joy and patience (which, let’s be honest, can feel like a pretty big sacrifice at times).
- Maybe it’s showing up at work with gratitude rather than complaint. Strive to recognize that the hours you put in are an act of love and a way of glorifying God.
None of us is going to fix all the world’s problems all on our own. That’s impossible. However, each of us can do our part in our own small way. Each of us can do small things with great love.
There is grace and beauty in the ordinary. Sometimes, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Think of ordinary people who, by God’s grace, rose up to make an impact—people who chose to do the little things faithfully and ended up changing lives. Saints were ordinary men and women who chose faithfulness again and again, even when it was hard (especially when it was hard).
Say Yes Everyday
Never underestimate the power of your daily “yes” to God. Every prayer whispered, every sacrifice offered, every small act of love matters. In fact, those little things (when done with great love) are often the very things that ripple out into eternity.
As tempting as it can feel at times, don’t allow the darkness to consume you. Let it drive you to the Light. Anchor your heart in Christ, fix your eyes on heaven, and let everything you do—even the smallest thing—be for the greater glory of God.
You don’t need to solve all the world’s problems. You just need to say yes, right where you are.
This Week’s Midweek Motivation
- Stay faithful in the small things.
- Root your actions in love and truth.
- Keep your eyes fixed on Heaven.
