Hope In Times Of Uncertainty

The world is a scary place right now.  For many, its never been anything but scary, however many of us have lead quiet, peace-filled, middle class American lives.

It's been good.  We've been blessed.  I can't help but feel like it is going to change.  Soon.

I read that the average American has $21,000 dollars of credit card debt.  Yes, you read that right, and that is not including other debt they have like a mortgage or car payments.

In my lifetime, I've seen people go from wanting to make more money to live at a higher status level, to not really caring about that as long as they could pay the minimum balance on their credit card every month.  Everyone wants to live like a celebrity, without a celebrities income.

 My husband worked with guys whose wives made as much as they did or more, and they still didn't own anything outright.  It was all on payments; house, car, boats, motorcycles.

I just don't see how this is sustainable much longer.  The Fed is going to be announcing today whether it will be raising interest rates.  They've been at historical lows to try to stimulate the economy.  If they do raise the rate, then what people owe will actually increase, even if they don't purchase anything else.  

 And what about our national economy and the worlds' economy?  These are not sustainable, either. Many people feel that a depression is coming the likes of which we haven't seen before.

And truly more troubling is our seeming disinterest in what Planned Parenthood does.  I am so glad to see that the 'mask' is off of what abortion really is, and what actually happens, but I am appalled at the apathy.  We as a people are too easily distracted by our entertainments.

So what do we do?  I think we can be wise and prepare now for some challenging times.  We can stock a bit of extra food, we can pay off debt, we can pray for our nation and the world.  

My hope is not in what governments can do for me.  My hope is in Jesus.  God holds all of history in His hands,  and He has placed you and me here at this point of history, for His purposes.

 I think we can and should share our hope with others.  We can write about what we are doing to ease financial strains, or how we are reaching out to others.  We can speak truth in love to one another and encourage each other.

 We can pray for each other, too.

 I love to share beautiful things, and to talk about what books I'm reading, or a photo of my pretty bed, and I will continue to do this.  But I want to be able to be truthful and talk about what's happening in the world, as well as sharing my daily life.

 It's more real, you know?  My real life is all these things, and so is yours.  

Worry is the antithesis of trust. You simply cannot do both. They are mutually exclusive. Elisabeth Elliot

I'd love to know what you think about it all.  Let's talk.