The weekly Five Minute Friday word prompt for this week is “how.”
How is your heart, friends?
My heart is weary and broken. I look at our broken world and I cry out, How long, oh Lord?
I turn on the news and I am overcome with the brokenness and injustices of our world. How long will this go on?
I’m listening and learning. I recently started a book study on the book White Fragility. I’m learning so much that I didn’t know and unlearning other habits too. How long, will it take to continue to learn?
I hear the voices of my friends who are cops. I pray for their safety. But also want better for them too. I know where my friends heart truly is.
I open Facebook and I’m sorry that I even opened it. All I see is you’re right, I’m wrong. I see name calling. I see the political divide. Yet it’s so much more than that. I’m not anti American. I’m simply for Jesus. I want to be more like him. He was always sitting with those on the margins.*
Jesus left the ninety-nine sheep to find the one who was lost. It’s not that the ninety-nine aren’t important. It’s just that it is the one missing who needs the shepherd the most right now.
I want better for the generations yet to come. I want there to be peace on earth and let it begin with me. I’m clinging to Micah 6:8: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.”
How is your heart today, friends?
*where the five minutes ended. Had to finish my thoughts.
it’s so disheartening. It breaks my heart when I see how people are treated. We, our nation, needs a heart change for sure.
Yes…a heart change!
I share your feelings! I can’t even bring myself to turn on the news and I don’t want to check Facebook because there is far more hate than love on there right now. And I’ve also been feeling so heavy because my son is 16 and I keep thinking, this is what he inherited? This broken world. It’s so hard. We all need to personally do whatever part we are assigned, pick up whatever piece He sets before us, prayerfully seek out healing, because there is so much work to do! Let’s keep in mind though, with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) Even as bad as it looks, He can bring goodness out of this. Hang in there 🙂
Thanks. You hang in there too!
My heart is tired. On Monday I opened the final exam for my Sociology class and felt betrayed by my professor. Not only had she changed her format from multiple choice to essay and asked us to answer in context of what he had learned all semester (something she had promised not to do), but her questions clearly leaned a particular way that gave me panic. Should I write what she wants to hear and not be true to myself? Should I be true to myself and risk a lower grade for opposing her opinions? Let’s just say, this was a long week of research on racism in America AND looking into my own self to see what I truly believe. God is faithful, and He gave me wisdom to finish it yesterday. And then I took a nap. =)
My heart is tired too. God is indeed faithful. I hope you enjoyed that nap.
I understand what you’re saying, Tara. So much brokenness and violence — it’s hard to know where to stand and what to say. We need God’s grace and courage so much in these times.
Yes!
Actually, my heart is kind of hopeful…this has been a long time coming, these dreadful days, and like the fire clearing the chapparal of a California hillside, this can make way for new growth…if we stay involved, positive, and centered on Christ.
And I think we can do this. There will be setbacks aplenty, but every slow step of reconcilliation will be worthy of celebration.
Now’s the time that not our will be one, Lord, but Thine.
I like this perspective, friend! Good food for thought for me!
Tara… looks like we were pondering the same scripture this week! (I’m in the 46 spot…)
Yes we are!
My heart has been heavy. I have been inspired by posts that remind us to recognize the way we can speak into racism with the specific ways (or lanes) we are called. Trying to do it all will lead to burn out. Thankful for the power of the Holy Spirit moving through it all.
Those posts have been helpful for me too. I too am thankful for the power of the Holy Spirit.