Written By: Clarissa Mangaran
Stop.
Breathe.
I take in as much information as I can from different sides, different angles.
I allow myself to cry. Allow myself to feel the heartbreak, the disappointment, the fear, the outrage, the confusion, and the anger. Release it all. Lay it all down at the foot of my Heavenly Father in prayer.
I share with my husband (my calm, level-headed, critical thinking husband) all that weighs heavy on my heart. Talk to my mom. Talk to friends who love the Lord. Let them in on the chaos of my mind, reflecting the chaos in our country.
I look at social media, and I am overwhelmed by the hate, the anger, the fear, the hopelessness, the division, and the lies. My head spins. There is so much going on and so many issues at hand, all happening at once. COVID-19, months of quarantine, nation-wide economic ruin, protests, violence, injustice, riots, corruption….
People are hurting. People are looking for answers. I know it’s important to share God’s Truth to a broken and lost world, but what do I say? How do I share my heart with the world in a way that reflects God’s unconditional love for all of humanity? I stumble over my words.
So I pray. I turn to the Lord for instruction and direction.
A loved one’s words ring in my ear: “We need more than prayer. We need action!”
Yes, we need to take action. We need to speak up. But I will not take a stand on any issues purely out of reactionary emotion. I’ve regretted it more often than not in the past.
I take a stand based on what God says is right and true.
So I read. I study the pages of my Bible.
I look at what’s going on in the world around me and compare it to God’s Word. I look at the different sides and compare them to what God says is right.
From the outside, it looks like inaction. It looks like silence or indifference. But that’s far from the truth. Will my words do more harm than good? Will my words bring hope, or will they just add to the noise? What I say reflects on Women Soaring, and more importantly, on my faith and my God.
I hold my tongue for a moment, and I get to work. I pour into His Word. I let Him formulate my stance. I pray I will speak up with compassion, filled with grace. And I will do so in a way that I believe is glorifying to the Lord.
…to be continued…
Written By: Clarissa Mangaran
