I usually watch a nightly news that has an ending segment titled “The Good Stuff.” It devotes the last few minutes of the broadcast to feel-good segments. Whenever the host says, “Now it’s time for the good stuff,” I reply, “because all the rest has been bad stuff!”
The media focuses mainly on the “bad stuff.” We see people assaulting and killing each other for no reason. We see earthquakes and floods and pestilence. There always seems to be a new health scare or a new recall. We often hear about the violence against Christians in foreign countries, and now even in our own nation.
When those images of hate and violence spread, fear also spreads. We lose the freedom of being able to express our views on life, politics, or God without the fear of reprisals. When we fear reprisals, we will often simply not speak.
The LORD, however, does not want us cowering in a corner somewhere, voluntarily mute because of our fear. In fact, the LORD commands us to speak, to tell others about His wonderful works.
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” [Psalm 105:1-4 NLT]