Psalms 116:10-11

Can we live in alarm and trust at the same time?

No.

To notice and observe our afflictions is normal and expected. But to stay there is a slippery slope toward becoming a cynic. We’ll know it’s tightening its grip when we find ourselves rehearsing some variation of three statements:

1. “This always happens to me.”

2. “They always do this to people.”

3. “I don’t believe it's ever going to change.”

Nobody plans to be an Eeyore, but to allow ourselves to remain alarmed is a surefire way to become one.

To go down that path is to wrongly assume other people can actually do anything of substance about our troubled state. Once there, we’ll find some justification to exempt us from having to think of others with the same generous thinking God thinks of us.

The solution? “I trusted in the Lord when I said ‘I am greatly afflicted.’”

Lord - Whatever our afflictions, strengthen us to lift our eyes to you, that both affliction and humanity would take proper perspective.