Striking a Balance
Take a moment to consider this…
Awareness and self-preservation can coexist.
How?
It comes down to balance—especially in the times we’re living in. I recently read a comment that said, “It’s giving last days,” and honestly, that sentiment resonates. Some days, there’s a heaviness in the air that’s hard to ignore. News and information—whether accurate or not—are always a click or scroll away. Each new headline that pops up seems to outweigh the one before it.
So, what do we do? How do we manage our intake?
Some of us feel compelled to stay informed about every current event, both locally and globally—believing that awareness requires constant consumption. We set our notifications to receive the latest updates on social platforms. We bookmark our favorite news or media outlets and anxiously await the next post or article. We look for every opportunity to engage in conversation or debates about the latest hot topic. FOMO is a real thing!
Others may take the opposite approach, choosing to disengage entirely. To look away. To remain unaware in an effort to “protect their peace.” They may feel that “ignorance is bliss,” and they don’t need to know anything unless it directly impacts their immediate circle. For some, disengaging allows them to continue avoiding conflict or confrontation—but that’s another post for another day.
But if we’re honest, too much of either can be harmful. Constant exposure can quietly wear on us over time, weakening both flesh and spirit. But if we take the opposite approach, how will we know what and who to pray for? How will we know when to prepare or take action?
Awareness
Scripture reminds us of the children of Issachar, described as those who “understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). Their wisdom wasn’t rooted in fear or obsession—but in discernment and strategy. Awareness, when practiced with intention, allows us to respond thoughtfully rather than react emotionally.
Self-Preservation
At the same time, we’re instructed to guard our hearts, for “everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). Protecting your mind and spirit is not avoidance—it’s stewardship. It’s recognizing that constant exposure to heaviness can dull hope and disturb peace if left unchecked.
Awareness keeps us informed.
Self-preservation keeps us grounded.
Both are necessary.
God may be calling us to act and carry out an assignment, but our ignorance will cause us to miss it.
Or, He may be nudging us to Selah—to pause and reflect, but the obsession with outside noise keeps us distracted.
The invitation, then, is not to choose one over the other but to pray for wisdom in holding them together. To stay informed without becoming consumed. To protect your peace without turning away completely.
If you can…take a moment to check your balance today.
“May God grant us wisdom to stay aware without becoming overwhelmed, and discernment to guard our hearts while remaining present and compassionate toward one another.”
Be well,
~B🤎
