How to Watch the News Without Going Crazy

by Cathee Poulsen

So we’re three weeks away from the election and it gets more disturbing every day. Watching the Evening News can make you crazy if you let it, but just who is in control here?

The things we expose ourselves to control who we are. That’s why staying aware of the continual presence of Christ changes us incrementally — or as the Bible says, “from glory to glory.” Watching the news however, also changes us — from gory to gory.

To get right to the point, here are four things you can do to keep your sanity over the next three weeks.

1. Monitor the amount of negative input from the media. The media is not the same as journalism. It’s much harder to find journalistic reviews and reports these days. The money is in reporting the sensational or disturbing. Decision Magazine put out a truly great issue recently which appeared unbidden in my mailbox. Maybe you got one too. “Two Visions – Two Americas. 2016 Election Edition.” It is excellent. See if you can get your hands on a copy. Time Magazine also publishes thoughtful pieces. And there are many others. Search them out.
2. Curate what you watch! In other words, turn off push notifications that put the same news value on what’s happening with ISIS and what Kim Kardashian wore to lunch today. Do you honestly care about that? You have the ability to control what news comes your way and how often you get those beeps on your phone. Decide what you’ll watch or listen to and turn off the rest.
3. For every hour of news you watch spend equal time in prayer. If ever we need to pray for our country, it is right now. “If my people, who are called by my name…” The instruction is not to just any ole’ American. It’s to US who say we follow Christ. His Word instructs us to pray for those in authority, that we might lead peaceful lives. If He’s instructed us to pray that way, won’t He respond to those prayers? Get on your knees.
4. Remember all that’s going right. The more you focus on all the things you think are wrong, the bigger they’ll seem. Just like the 10 spies who went into Jericho. They saw giants all around and themselves as mere bugs. They had quickly forgotten the way God had led them so far – the manna and the water, the quail, the crossing of the Red Sea and more recently the Jordan River when it was raging. Have you stopped lately to recount all the good things God has provided? Be amazed by that and not all the pundits comments on the debate. Outside of your one vote and prayer, God has not given you the responsibility of setting policy or directing the nation. Elect godly people to do that work. I love to remind myself of these words when I get too agitated over current events, “Nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.” David speaking in Ps. 131:1.

We are people of the Kingdom that is above all other kingdoms. We do not fear the future because we follow in the train of a Conqueror. If we faint and grow weak and weary in the day of trouble, what do we have to offer those who are watching us?