The world is filled with countless tragic stories. And each is personal for those involved and worthy of active care and loving presence. But our souls were not designed to carry the weight of each of these stories in full. And we must wisely filter what we feed our souls to maintain our vitality and ability to love others well.
To be sure, our hearts go out to all who are suffering with the heartaches, losses, and many griefs of this life. And, of course, we seek every opportunity to magnify love in these moments every chance we get.
But wisdom is also called for. We’re not infinite and there’s only so much our souls can bear. And while we don’t want to turn a blind eye to our neighbor in need, we must also consider the extent of our responsibility to others.
For instance, we have a primary responsibility for those in our home and to those God has called us to serve. While many other needs and concerns exist, and we’re free to engage as we see fit, we must not neglect our first duty.
As such, we must regularly filter what stories we allow our souls to attach to. For example, following every bleeding headline, sad story, or political drama can leave our souls depleted and impotent to care for those entrusted to us.
Filtering doesn’t mean we put our heads in the sand and ignore important issues and the heart cries of those around us. But it is wisely discerning which issues we can wholeheartedly give ourselves to.
Is engaging in this story faithfully fulfilling who God has called us to be today? Or is it distracting and draining us from our primary duties?
In the end, many things are not as they should be in this world. But learn to filter the world to keep your heart full and free to focus on God’s call for your life.
Photo by Malte Helmhold on Unsplash
