This week, my Facebook news feed has exploded with hundreds of people’s opinions about the Syrian Refugee Crisis, ISIS’s threatened attacks on Washington D.C., and everything pertaining to these matters.

I have read much of what my friends and acquaintances have written on these matters and respect the opinions of all those who have shared their thoughts via social media. In many ways, social media has become a modern day “Public Square” (albeit from all over the world perhaps rather than purely local) for people to voice their thoughts.

However, I know I’m not the only one out here wondering (with all the opinions swirling around) two things: What are the facts and what can I do about them?

Seeing that I am not an expert on the matters being discussed, I found this article a friend of mine posted quite helpful in it’s basic breakdown of the facts of the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

We must each ask ourselves how, as followers of Christ, should we respond to these matters?

Regarding threats from ISIS to harm the people and city I live in and love – I am choosing to respond in this way:

1) To Pray For the Persecutors – I’ve had the chance to interact with many people in my lifetime who have come from very difficult family situations. If I were taught from childhood that a certain country or people group was my enemy, I would likely believe it. I’m not choosing to fight hate with more hate, but to pray for the people who are choosing to give their lives to the killing of other human beings.

I pray that they, like Saul on Damascus Road, would encounter the living Christ and awake to the truth of their destructive hatred and Christ’s unconditional love…grace that extends even to terrorists and suicide bombers.

2) To Not Live In Fear – a friend of mine wrote about this on her blog this week as well. Christ has clearly instructed His church, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul…” (Matthew 10:28).

This does not mean living in ignorance. What this looks like is to stay watchful and alert; to pray for those who are in positions to defend and protect our country, all while continuing to live your normal life with a deep sense of peace and trust in God.

3) To Resist Empty Verbal Sparring and Actually Do Something:

a) Pray for Leaders – As a Christian, I am called to “pray for leaders and those in authority…” (1 Timothy 2:2). I am to pray for them regardless of whether I agree with them. They (not me!) are making really important decisions that impacts thousands of people. I need to cry out to the Lord to give them wisdom and discernment, that they would not be influenced by fear or petty political power plays.

While I may not agree with their decisions, I ought to respect the fact that they are in a position I am not; that what they need from me in this time is prayer, not verbally lambasting them in the public square (which accomplishes nothing).

b) To Welcome Strangers and Assist Those in Need – As a Christian, I am called to welcome strangers as I would welcome Christ Himself.

If I am arguing for refugees (who have gone through the necessary vetting process) to be able to enter our country and find freedom here, am I personally willing to welcome them? To help them adapt to a new land and culture?

I’m not sure yet what doors God will open for me, but I think what is important is a willingness to serve and be hospitable to those who come to our nation and neighborhood from troubled lands of origin. To demonstrate the love of Christ with our actions.

Here’s at least one group who is offering opportunities for citizens to be involved in serving refugees: World Relief. Here is a list of groups who are currently serving refugees who you can contribute to financially.

In summary, let’s not waste our energy in verbal assaults. This neither weakens the enemy nor strengthens the afflicted. Let’s seek to be respectful of the thoughts and opinions of others regarding complex issues.

Instead, let’s expend our energy in two primary places: on our knees in prayer for the persecuted and persecutors, for our leaders, and for all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. And may we live and love without fear; embracing with open arms in our communities the refugee and the needy, remembering that when we do, we are serving Christ Himself.

I sat in my room during the one hour of my day that I can normally find peace and quiet and simultaneously heard the noise of a power sander in my kitchen and my baby in the room next door erupting in cries from his afternoon nap as a result of the noise.

The blessing was that within a few days I would have a beautifully painted kitchen. The downside was how that process was impacting me in the moment. I had a choice to make. I could allow the stress of the moment to steal my joy or I could comfort my baby and remind myself of the truth: that this was a temporary inconvenience and soon my kitchen would be a lovely and cheery yellow color.

A Biblical Remedy for Stress

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reads, “Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes we make out God’s will to be elusive and mysterious – something that we must search for with the tenacity and sense of a bloodhound in order to find it. On the contrary, often God’s will is as simple as leaning our full weight into the present moment – focused with appreciation on the gifts before us rather than the frustrations that cause our cortisol levels to surge.

When you are walking through stressful circumstances, what do you need most? Peace of mind. The question is – how do we get peace of mind when we are stressed out?

God’s Word gives us the prescription in Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Take Your Worries to Christ

Some questions and thoughts to ponder when you find yourself stressed out:

1) Am I praying about this or just steaming internally or venting my irritation on others?

2) Have I stopped to consider the good that could come out of this (or the good that is currently before me)?

3) Am I thankful for God’s many blessings or am I choosing to have selective focus on those things that are troubling me?

The secret to unshakable peace and lasting joy in the midst of stressful circumstances is clear: fix your eyes on Jesus and not on your problems. As a pastor of mine once said, “You can choose to get bitter or get better.”

What situation are you facing today that threatens to steal your joy? Where has your life lacked thanksgiving or a positive outlook? Take a few minutes today to stop. Pause. Thank God for the good. Petition Him about what concerns you. Rejoice in His friendship and entreat Him for His perspective of your situation.

Your circumstances may not change. But your heart can. And that is what makes all the difference.