According to the World Bank, when comparing America’s wealth and standard of living to that of the rest of the world, Americans can easily count their blessings. If your family income is $10,000 a year, you are wealthier than 80 percent of the world. If it’s $50,000 or more, you make more than 99 percent of the world.
These humbling statistics go to show that Americans are incredibly blessed when it comes to our financial well-being and standard of living. As Americans we have been bestowed with blessings so substantial that it is sometimes hard for us to comprehend just how truly great we have it.
Why, then, does it at times feel like the polar opposite? Why does it sometimes feel like we can’t catch a break, especially when around 50 percent of Americans say that they are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to make ends meet?
Is it possible that there is a growing disconnect between the true blessings we have, which we often fail to take notice of, and our perception of what really matters? Are we worrying about and chasing the wrong things in life?
Our modern American world is engrossed in materialistic consumerism. It is feeding false promises, stripping the soul and beauty from our world, and leaving a lot of people with an enormous void.
The remedy offered by the world of materialism is to fill the void with material items and self-centered pursuits. The undeniable truth, as supported by mental health statistics, is that this “remedy” is not working.
There is an increase in mental health issues within communities. We see the effects in our schools, in our friend groups, on social media and in those living on the streets. A staggering 50 million Americans suffer from anxiety and people are suffering despite living in America.
Why?
The answer can be found in whom and from where we get our satisfaction and fulfillment. The world has convinced millions of Americans that the only solution to their problems can be found in material things, in the one-night stands of a hook-up culture, and in the self-centered pursuits founded in the ideology of me.
These are promises that only serve to empty people more and mistakenly take people further away from the true source of fulfillment. This misguided belief is causing people to continually seek more and more, thus resulting in them not recognizing the true source of all our needs, namely Our Heavenly Father.
God knows all our needs and, in fact, He knows them even before we do. But so many times these needs that we desire are not what we truly need. A culture driven by instant gratification isn’t the solution.
For both Christians and non-Christians, it is only by turning to God and opening our hearts in saying, “Alright God, you know better than I do when it comes to what I need. Guide me,” are we able to fill that void and bring peace and humility to our lives.
When we worry, we are taking our eyes and trust away from God, who has our best interests in mind. When we turn to material things and the false pretense that we can handle life alone, we leave out the One who can actually fill the void.
One thing that God has consistently reminded us is to not worry about the things of this world. In fact, He tells us 365 times in the Bible to, “Be not afraid.”
In our day-to-day lives, whenever we feel that shadow of doubt and worry start to creep in, we must immediately turn to God for assistance. For it is only through Him and with Him that we will ever be able to completely shed the worry caused by this world and enjoy God’s blessings.
In a way we have won the lottery by being Americans. How we enjoy those winnings is ultimately up to us.
Do we keep them hidden in the darkness, seeking only materialist joy and being self-focused? Do we give thanks where thanks is due? Do we turn our hearts to God, acknowledging that He is the one who has blessed us, thus putting our trust and faith in Him to guide our lives to happiness and fulfillment?
If the answer to these questions is “no,” then who and what are we turning to?
For every day of the year, there is a simple but profound reminder: “Be not afraid.” Let us then turn our hearts and minds to our Lord, Jesus Christ, by acknowledging and sharing the blessings He has bestowed upon us, pushing the worry from our lives, and striving to live according to His will and not our own.
Let us keep in mind that He is the “remedy” the world needs.
This column may include both fiction and nonfiction, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN. Submissions can be sent to editor@pagosasun.com.
