Choosing Your Battles

We live in the age of 'instant response.' I don't know about you, but when I scroll through my social media feed, I almost always see something to which I feel the need to respond. Sometimes it is something cute or funny. But nothing gets my typing finger more ready than seeing a post that goes all over me. My mind immediately starts breaking it down, and constructing a 'proper' response that will end the foolishness. And that's what it is... foolishness, right?

But it isn't just in the virtual realm that we come across these opportunities. They occur in the real world as well. At home, at work, in the store. There seems to be an over-abundance of idiocy and evil in the world today. And you have the lock-tight smack-down answer for it. I'm not talking about drama. That is another discussion. I'm talking about those true right and wrong issues that pop up and seemingly call your name, begging you to straighten them out. Frankly, sometimes you need to answer that call. But not every time. If we aren't careful, we can spend all of our time shutting down dumb. And that is not the best use of our time. Today you should be judicious when engaging in debate, understanding that some hills are just not worth dying on, or even climbing.

There are some benefits to limiting your engagement in foolish, or even righteous debate. Passing on such discussions will improve your health. You know when you see something and you can feel that juice of 'rightness' flowing through your body? Well, I don't think all of that is good. Take a deep breath and keep scrolling, or walk away. Your body will thank you. Also, by not swinging at every pitch, you save up your impact for those that you can actually take to the fence. Constant battle siphons off your strength for the important ones.

God didn't make you the policeman of the world. You don't have to put out every evil fire today. King David, who had a deep sense of justice, but learned which battles were worth fighting put it this way, "Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans. Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land." (Psalm 37:7-9)