The Battle

There has been a battle waging within my heart recently. This warrior is trying to choose sides but finding myself in the middle.

I've seen articles about "first world problems" and "third world problems" both can be thought provoking. After being back "home" in a first world country for over a year now. I'm struggling. Many times it's a competition to see whose problems are worse. The "first world" problems are laughed at (some should be) while third world are to break our hearts and you hardly find yourself laughing.

So why am I struggling? I'm struggling because I have seen, first hand, third world poverty. Seen children who haven't eaten in days, people dying senseless deaths that could be prevented and the struggle of life in an impoverished nation. My struggle lies in the fact that there are true problems and struggles for people in first world countries too. Currently I have close friends who are jobless (and still have a family to support), have children with terminal illness, filing bankruptcy, and striving to help a child addicted to drugs. No these problems aren't the same as third world problems, but they are still as legitimate concerns that lead me to battle within my heart. I have to confess during my time overseas I was guilty of saying that the problems in America couldn't compare to my home overseas. Now I'm seeing that it's not a competition...burdens are burdens no matter your country, race, language, or economic status. 

This leads me to look at my own life as I scroll through my social media news feed. One post is about a sweet girl fighting leukemia, then about children being beheaded in Iraq, then a mother struggling with her child's rebellion, a dear friend battling malaria, and an African village rejoicing over a new well that provides them with clean water. God sees all of these burdens and the battles in everyone's lives and He cares about them ALL. 

I am convicted, challenged, and waving the flag of surrender in this false war within my mind. We are called to bear each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2)not to say "that's not a real problem". What about those people around the world? Pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to pray without ceasing. Prayer is powerful. There is a quote on social media that convicts me as well, "Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about it?" 

May we as Christians stand in the gap for one another. No matter what race, nationality, or tax bracket...burdens are tough to bear alone.