There Is Hope In These Tough Times And The Hope Is Not Fluffy

Hello America.  I am sensing lots of worry and fear right now from our country as the news continues to blare out the thousands of job lay-offs and big business foreclosures.  Even with the hope of a new government, there is still talk of something similar to the Great Depression which may be just around the corner.  Could it really be possible?

It feels a little bit like an earthquake.  The ground that we learn to trust as solid each day suddenly begins moving, even rolling like large hills of wake.  It is a strange sensation because it rarely happens.  The most frightful thing about it is that one never knows how big it will become and how long it will last.  Will it just shake us up a little or will people actually be injured, with even news of some fatalities?

It breaks my heart when I hear of people who are going hungry or middle-class citizens who are now standing in line at the food bank, which is running low in their stock.  Families who once had plenty are now rationing their food each week.  Grown men are searching for a new job after decades of working the same trade for the same business.

While I was talking to my sister about these things today, she said that she could feel the stress and tension from people at the grocery store.  Many feel insecure at this time and do not enjoy the unanswered question:  How bad is this going to get?  It is easy to blame-shift our problems onto fortune-making businesses and excessive government spending when perhaps we were not so wise to prepare for the possibility of an economic crisis ourselves.

I am not sure what I would do if I lost my job.  Worry, panic and despair would certainly be tempting.  As a single mother of four, I often feel a heavy weight of responsibility.  Yet at the same time, I feel hopeful.  Please allow me to explain.

There are three good things that are now possible that would not be otherwise, in our current state of affairs.

First of all, difficulties bring growth.  The emotion of alarm motivates us to break free from our daily rut.  We open our eyes and we observe.  We ponder and think.  We learn.  We make lasting changes in order to lessen our chances of that problem happening again, or we take the risk of exploring a different route.  Perhaps a job change or a new business idea.  Perhaps we learn to garden and grow our own food.  Maybe we simplify our lives.

This brings me to good thing #2.  Americans have lots of stuff.  We have stuff to clean all of our stuff.  And then we have stuff to store the stuff we use to clean our stuff.  It is not wrong to appreciate possessions.  Our country has been very blessed with comfort.  But sometimes we depend on luxuries too much or we mistakenly think it can fulfill our purpose for living.  Then our possessions cause us undue stress and anxiety, especially in the thought of losing them.  A decrease in our income can prove to us that joy will remain or even be discovered for the first time without all the extra stuff.

The third good thing is my favorite of all.  Hard times bring people together.  They create opportunities to help our friends, our relatives, even complete strangers.  I love to hear stories of charity especially when the giver has very little.  I have a difficult time telling my acquaintances only that I will pray for them when they are struggling financially.  But what else can I do?  Ponder Elizabeth.  Think.  Ah, I can use my passion for writing to inform and encourage people.  Even small things like a blog can be helpful, for it brings people together.

"....  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and {yet} your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?....  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:24-34 (NASB)