It is difficult to live in our world today. If you are financially stable, you see the poor and you don't know how to respond. If you are poor, you wonder where everything went wrong. If you are a college student, you are trying to juggle learning, paying for your education, enjoying life with your friends, investing in your community, and getting enough rest.

No matter what situation we are in, we have difficulties. For that reason, when we look at the news and see our broken world further falling apart, how do we respond?

Do we look away and focus on our own little world because we don't need the extra burden? Do we yell at the screen in frustration? Do we cry and yell at God in frustration? The hardest part is that there is not one correct way to respond.

We are only humans. We hurt. We have sorrows. We don't always do the right things. However, I do believe we need to respond in some way to the hurting world around us. I am usually a shy, smiling, laughing, calm person who doesn't get fired up. But I don't want to be silent when there are people who cannot speak for themselves or they are not being heard. I encourage you to find ways to respond.

Let's take the difficulties of the world to heart and respond in an appropriate way. Perhaps you can try doing some of these things:

- Talk about the heart ache in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas.

- Talk about the heart ache around the world.

- Pray for everybody and pray for the wisdom to know what to do, what action to take.

"6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:6-7

- Encourage people! In our hurting world, some encouragement is needed to keep persevering and stand together.

- Try doing one of the things found in this article,

There is also an article from the New York Times that discusses how some crowds responded with both passion and peace in Baton Rouge. Yes, that is a possible response, and that is a great way to respond. That is how I choose to respond. Violence and racism are topics that are clearly evident and continue to penetrate our society.

It's interesting because in the 90's artist Tupac came out with a song called "Keep Ya Head Up" which provides much insight for us today. He addresses the pain in the lives of his community and his listeners. I point to this song because he is encouraging his listeners to have perseverance. Things will get better; they will get "easier" and "brighter." Even though we won't see that progress overnight, we can hang on to the hope that it will. We must trust that God is taking care of each of us. He is a God of justice. So, read these lyrics and hold on to the hope that we don't have to carry the burdens of the world on our own. God will continue to be our Provider, Comforter, and Savior.

"Because there's too many things for you to deal with
Dyin' inside, but outside you're looking fearless
While tears is rollin' down your cheeks
Ya steady hopin' things don't fall down this week
Cause if it did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me
I was given this world I didn't make it
And now my son's gettin' older and older and cold
From havin' the world on his shoulders
While the rich kids is drivin' Benz
I'm still tryin' to hold on to surviving friends
And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up, but
Please, you got to keep your head up."