God Doesn't Set A Priority on Pain

Thomas Saliot's As Tears Go By 

One thing that social media does is highlight the issues that make people both extremely happy and extremely sad. It's wild to watch it all play out because there are constantly news stories of murders, racism, controversial bills passed, sex trafficking, animal abuse, and every type of political drama you could imagine.  

These issues aren't just stories to some of the people that post them.  They represent a little piece of their heart. A piece that actually affects how they live and so in posting, it's like putting a piece of themselves out there. They're showing themselves to you. Meanwhile, the people that read it can just offhand make a comment whether they understand the issue or not (or even fully read what is posted).  This makes for an emotional battlefield. It can be hard to watch. 

What I want you to remember in all of this is that God doesn't set a priority on pain.  He has made us all to be passionate about different things and we all have different histories and experiences.  When you put all of that together, it seems obvious that what hurts me, doesn't necessarily hurt you.  In fact, what I celebrate may make you weep.  Why do we forget that? God doesn't, though.  He cares about our pain, even though it's different for each of us. 

If a hunted and killed lion in another country makes your heart hurt, He's there for you. 

If the selling of aborted baby parts breaks you apart, He's there for you. 

If the bullying which leads to suicide of a transgender teen makes you weep, He's there for you. 

If you are scared out of your mind at who was elected president, He's there for you. 

If you hate men, He's there for you. 

If you don't trust white people, He's there for you. 


None of these things even need to be rational in order for Him to be there for you.  In fact, some of them are rational to some and irrational to others.  The only person who can completely break through "right and wrong" and get to your heart is Jesus. 

Many of these things should break you wide open to feel something, but some people will naturally feel it deeper. You don't have to choose a pain in the world and only decide to be affected by that. There are lots of posts like, "how can you be concerned with ______ when ______ is happening???"  People are so proud of calling you out. 

My advice? Ignore those people. What hurts hurts and you can't set priorities on those things. 

Wanna know something else? Our heart can hurt for more than one thing at a time.  I KNOW, crazy right? You can be sad about bullying, planned parenthood, racism and sex trafficking ALL AT THE SAME TIME. And you should. You don't have to choose what hurts you most. If you focus on one more than the other, if one breaks you apart more than the other, that is where your passion lies. It doesn't mean you don't care about the other people/issues. 

Just don't stop there: at sadness. Push through to action. Research what you can do that will actually help the affected and then do it. Do you want someone to direct you?  

Well, listen to this wild fact. The same place that people call you out and hurt your heart is the same place you can go to find people with like-minded passions. People that are already doing things and can help you get started.  Oh, social media, you are full of so many things. You are so useful and so maddening.