One look at the evening news or a few minutes doomscrolling through your newsfeed, and you're likely to end up with a heart and mind racing a mile a minute. It seems at every turn, there are increasing reports of global conflict, natural disasters, political unrest, and the list goes on.
While not an official clinical diagnosis, many psychologists have started using the term “headline stress disorder”, originally coined by psychologist Dr. Steven Stonsy, to describe people who are overwhelmed and experience increased stress by viewing or reading the news[1]. Headline stress can impact everyone differently, but it often leads to feelings of being overwhelmed and helplessness, which can result in increased levels of stress, anxiety, and a lack of peace.
While it might be tempting to simply ignore or remove ourselves from the realities of the world, we know that, well, we can't. There is wisdom in staying informed about current events, but it is equally, if not more important, that we take measures to guard our hearts and minds with God’s peace when the world feels out of control.
Guard Your Heart and Your Habits.
"Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." - Proverbs 4:23
The heart refers to the center of one's life and orientation toward God. It's the place from which we do all of our thinking, choosing, and feeling. Because of its centrality in our lives, Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “guard our hearts.” To watch, to keep, to preserve, and guard from dangers with diligence.
If you find yourself feeling increasingly angry, overwhelmed, overly anxious, or experiencing a sense of dread and doom after consuming the news, it may be a sign that it is time to reevaluate your habits so that you can experience more of God’s peace. Start by taking practical steps to limit your consumption of news media. Set aside a specific time of day when you check your newsfeed or allocate a certain amount of time to watch the news.
If this is difficult, consider removing news apps or turning off notifications on your phone. When you can, try not to bring smart devices to the dinner table. Keep a book or journal nearby to have something else in place when the urge to scroll or turn on the TV creeps in. Take a walk. Get creative.
Studies have found that there is a connection between the amount of news we consume and emotional stress. The more you consume, the more you will receive. While technology is a great tool, we also need to remember that it is designed to keep you engaged and coming back for more. Clicking on one article or watching that clip on YouTube can easily lead us down a rabbit hole, consuming more time and attention than we intended.
Just as we practice dietary restrictions to take care of physical health, we should do the same in restricting the amount of news we consume to take care of our spiritual and emotional health.
The importance of guarding our hearts is an essential practice for believers and a key contributor to experiencing the peace of God in our lives. We have to make an intentional choice to focus more not on the things of the world but on the One who is the Creator of all things.
If we take measures to protect our homes, our vehicles, our money, our families, and anything else we deem valuable, wouldn’t it be in our best interests to do the same for our hearts- the very place from which everything we do begins?
Cast Your Cares on the Lord.
Instead of letting the newsfeeds rob us of our peace, believers have a unique opportunity to take what we see on the news and turn it into prayer. We were not meant to carry the burdens ourselves, but to trust in God, “...who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). This is not a flippant dismissal of the painful realities we see in the world, but rather an opportunity to let the headlines become a catalyst for prayer. By faith, we believe what Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” As children of God, we can be confident that the prayers of the righteous avail much.
Philippians also exhorts us, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. [John 14:2 AMP]
“Worry, in the final analysis, is nothing more than a lack of trust.” And worry is the antithesis to peace.
Allow the peace of God to rule your heart, as it says in “Colossians 3:15,” and turn your worry into prayer and worship. It is in that place that we find peace in the presence of God.
Remind Yourself Of God’s Sovereignty.
While God is not the author of evil or confusion, He does allow things to happen according to His greater plan. When we remember that He is sovereign over the universe, it should bring us peace that nothing catches Him by surprise. God is not surprised by the latest headline news. He is not scrambling to fix what we deem as out of control.
We see a great example of this in Psalm 46, which reminds us of God's provision, protection, and promises.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
He utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Be still, and know He is God. This reminder in Verse 10 is often the most quoted and has a direct correlation to encountering the peace of God.
However, to appreciate the beauty of the verse, we must look at the full context. The people of Jerusalem were under attack from the Assyrian army, facing fear and uncertainty. However, the psalmist reminds them and us that even when the nations rage and the mountains tremble, our God remains steadfast and in control. God is a fortress from our greatest fears[2]. He is a present help in times of trouble. Reminding ourselves of His sovereignty anchors our hearts in His unshakeable peace.
Focus on Today.
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Matthew 6:34
Much of what causes our anxiety when we watch the news is the fear of the unknown. There are issues that are out of our control. And though we don’t know the outcome, we can trust in the One who does. What we focus on ultimately takes up the most space in our hearts and minds. We can shift our focus from what we see and instead choose to be present in the moment, thanking God for His faithfulness. To think on things that are “…true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT). As Jesus said, “Which of you by worrying can add a single cubit to his life?” (Matthew 6:27) Not one. So let’s choose to place our trust in Him, so we can fully experience His everlasting peace.
[1] Managing Headlines Stress & News Anxiety | Charlie Health. https://www.charliehealth.com/post/managing-headline-stress
[2] J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2022), 321.
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