If you only pay attention to the internet, social media or news, you might think there’s more and more going wrong in this world, and less and less going right.
True, this world has numerous problems. And if people focus only on the painful, harmful aspects, they will increase; those things that receive the greatest attention become the norm.
But when you focus on positive aspects, the negative carries less weight. You realize, for example, not all teenagers do drugs, and that many of them help others. You realize not all people of different color or religion rob stores, harm their spouse, or seek others’ destruction.
Many people in the community do great things to help the less fortunate; to care for the sick or lonely. There’s plenty of positivity in this world.
Do you look at life and remember God’s creative power? Do you praise God for the wonders of creation?
Psalm 104 states, “God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as a garment .… You set the earth on its foundations … You cover it with the deep as with a garment … You make springs gush forth in the valleys… giving drink to every wild animal. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation. …
“You cause the grass to grow for cattle, and plants for people to use, … and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart… You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.”
When you focus on God’s blessings, you soon realize just how generous God is. Then you will realize just how complicated humanity has made life.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: Focus on God's blessings, stay positive