When I’m consumed by catastrophe, I don’t have the emotional capacity to care for the people God put directly in my path. And I certainly don’t have reserves to help the victims of the tragedy.
How To Help Others In This Hurting World (Without Harming Ourselves)
But as Christians, we’re commanded to show love and compassion to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as to others. (John 13:34-35)
So, how do we buffer ourselves from these events without feeling like we’re bad Christians? How can we learn to provide help, but still protect our health?
1. Recognize your restrictions
In a long-distance tragedy, stress hormones course through your system. Your body gears up, but there’s nothing to fight and nowhere to flee. You’re left with a sense of danger, but no real means of combating it.
Being aware of your body’s limitations is the first step in both caring for yourself and more effectively caring for others.
2. Decrease the details
Watching the continuous news coverage hoping to glean a new piece of information increases the severity of your body’s fight-or-flight stress response.
So turn off the news channels, avoid headlines, and avert your eyes when information scrolls across your Facebook feed. If there is information you need to know, you will be informed. It’s impossible not to be in this day and age.
3. Control the conversation
When we’re frightened about world events, we have a biological desire to connect with others, which is often expressed by sharing information and commiserating about the tragedy, which sends a fresh batch of stress hormones coursing through our bodies.
But there’s another way to connect. Ephesians 4:29 tells us to “let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Guiding the conversation away from fears and toward blessings strengthens others as much as it rejuvenates us.
4. Lean on the LORD
Our Heavenly Father, Jehovah, promises that He will keep in perfect peace all whose thoughts are fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
Fortunately, we need to know very few details to pray on behalf of the victims, because the Holy Spirit helps us (Romans 8:26).
A Different Response
Since I’ve been applying these tips, I have a different reaction to world events. Let me show you:
A cup of fresh-brewed tea in hand, I open my laptop to begin the day. But as soon as I see the headline, my heart sinks.
What happened? My hand hovers over the photo but stops before pressing the key.
I say a prayer for those involved, and for their loved ones. I return to preparing tomorrow’s psychology lecture.
A full hour passes before I glimpse a headline highlighting the details of the event. I log out of my browser and gather a load of dirty laundry.
I still don’t know the details.
I can’t help but notice headlines when I access my Yahoo account. My Facebook feed fills up with posts and hashtag-prayfors. Without reading any of the articles, I am aware of the basic situation: terrible tragedy, many dead or injured. I pray as requested.
I don’t know all of the specifics. Chances are, I never will.
But knowing the details doesn’t uplift others, it just undermines my own well-being.
Over the next few days, the news footage plays continuously, but I’ll see little of it.
Likewise, I’ll avoid blog posts and Facebook notices that feature the event. I may even unfollow a few friends temporarily. (I’m sure you’ll understand.)
It feels strange sometimes. Something big and terrible has happened — may still be happening — and I don’t know all the details.
But I am so much calmer and more peaceful when I keep in mind how God made me, and trust in Him alone.
How do you show compassion without compromising your well-being?
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This article originally appeared at KendraBurrows.com.
