Feeling a Bit Overwhelmed with Bad News? ~ By @ShelleyHendrix

I was struggling a bit one morning recently as I read the headlines and even the posts running through my social media newsfeed. There are so many needs. 

There are so many things going wrong. There is so much injustice in the world. 

Stephen and I were the recipients of some of that "injustice" recently. It reminded me of a picture my mom gave me when I was in 9th grade. I searched the pic out so that I could put it here for you to see. 

(I don't have rights to this pic below, and found it here.) 

Do you ever feel this way?

So, I took a long walk. I listened to my playlist while I walked alongside the ocean in my new home town. As Seth Condrey sang "Here I stand, arms open wide. I am Yours, and You are mine;" and as I listened and prayed and walked and listened some more, I began to feel God's peace and presence. 

Yes, there is a lot going on. Any one of us would change it all if we could. But as His child, I'm choosing once again to trust my Heavenly Father's goodness, awareness, involvement, and plans for this world and for my own life.

"I am Yours and You are Mine."

A wise woman once told me that God put us in a body for a reason: He never intended us to be in more than one place at a time. This helps me remember to engage where I am and to be present with those around me as much as possible.

My friend, Steve Mason told me, "All any one of us deal with is what God sets before us at any given moment. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by this world. When we are overwhelmed we cannot be present for the next person who needs our attention and love."

Let's continue to pray, to give of our time and resources, and to go where He leads; but as we do, it's also helpful to keep in mind that God never expected us to save the world. He has already taken care of that. 

 Shelley Hendrix is the founder of Church 4 Chicks as well as Shelley Hendrix Ministries and the co-founder of a new ministry collaboration called Team Redeemed (a ministry to those whose lives have been impacted by infidelity). 

You can find Shelley's website, social media links and more at www.ShelleyHendrix.com but you'll typically find her sipping coffee, scrounging for chocolate, and petting her dog while hovered over her laptop.