Stressed out? Why not Connect to the Most Conected Person of All Time

Google receives 40,000 search requests every second. We are constantly searching! We no longer have to wait until we're at home or at our computer. We can literally search immediately when the impulse to "know" arises. In many cases, we do not even have to be able to type anymore. Google is happy to listen!

What are we searching for? Stats about search-trends reveal that money-, recreational-, shopping-, travel-, social-, health- and wellbeing issues, are some of the most relevant things people have questions about nowadays. And then always..., the curiosity about the next big tech idea or gadget, how-to's and quick tutorials on just about anything from how to "fix" a Mercedes Benz, to "how to cure" a dog from excessive barking. Then there is the everlasting, unquenchable thirst for communities to belong to, and people to "follow". Being "connected" is paramount! Being disconnected is widely considered to be the cruelest sentence served on anyone. 

Today I want to talk about this connection I've made that literally changed my life...

Most people agree that this millennium didn't get off to a good start. For most people it has so far been a very stressful time! The scary thing is that some people in their mid-20's have never known any better times. It started off on 9 September 2001: The attack on World Trade Centre in New York,  and the subsequent wars on terror. 2008 saw a worldwide financial crisis! From late 2019 up until 2021 the devastating Covid-19 pandemic consumed the lives and minds of almost every citizen on the planet! We were still trying to make sense about that, when in 2022 war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, changing the geo-political atmosphere, with devastating consequences for billions of people.

Meanwhile, although not talked about that much, there are many other wars raging. In wars in 23 countries on average, more than 1,000 human beings are killed were per year. In 6 countries, casualties even topped 10,000 per year. 21 countries suffered under "smaller conflicts" where less than 1,000 people were killed per year.

This millennium, like many before it, saw famine: 828 million people, almost 10% of the global population go to bed hungry. 150 million CHILDREN are living on the streets without permanent shelter, or people to feed them. We are overwhelmed by these facts, but unfortunately, there isn't much that the ordinary individual can do about that, but it still affects us.

It's like there is a depressing atmosphere globally! There are financial difficulties everywhere. Unemployment figures climb rapidly to unprecedented heights. Graduated people work in dead-end jobs. People are getting paid far less than they are worth, while the value of there money decreases daily. Food and fuel prices soar.

This grave picture leaves the vast majority of the over 8bn people in the world, looking for answers, and in dire need of help. Everyday millions of people flock to Social Media for answers on a variety of questions. We subscribe and follow people because we're afraid of missing out. We subscribe and follow people because we hope to find a new plan, the next brilliant idea, a wise thought, some motivation, or anything that offers to give us just a little hope. Mostly our search results show just more bad news. The sad, sad thing is that many millions have stopped looking for solutions, because they simply have lost all hope!!!

Did you know that - as of now - 111 million Youtube users subscribe to Pewdiepie (pronounced "pyoodeepai"), a Swedish gamer recording himself, playing Minecraft, to escape from reality. 133 million people follow Barak Obama  (44th POTUS) on Twitter, hoping for just a crumb of positive wisdom. 138 million people follow Mr. Bean on Facebook, just to have something silly to laugh about. 482 million people follow Christiano Ronaldo  (soccer- or football player depending on which part of the world you're from) on Instagram, because he is famous, because he made it!

BUT... Did you know?

Jesus of Nazareth has 2,2 billion followers worldwide! 2,2 billion people across the world who publicly proclaim to be His followers! Who then, shall we ask for advice, or help in our deepest search? Shouldn't we be taking note of Someone with almost 2,5 billion public followers?

We're living in a culture where being connected is the most important thing. We're living in a culture where FOMO (fear of missing out) is almost like a disease, like an addiction. We crave to have a sense of belonging. And we were made to belong. 

So..., the question is: Why not be part of the largest social group in the world? Why not connect to the most connected Human of all times?

What is said about Him?

In Isaiah 53:2 we read what was prophesied almost a 1,000 years before Jesus' birth: "He has no form nor majesty that we should see Him, nor an appearance that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we esteemed Him not. Surely,  He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows;"

Jesus is well aware of, and cares about, our sorrows and griefs. We read what He said in Matthew 6:31-33: " Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?  For the nations seek after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." Also in Matthew 7:7-8, He offers help: "Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.  For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened."

Jesus knows that we are searching. And He has solution! BUT..., you could ask "If that is true..., if Jesus knows..., why are the world in this mess?" Because most people are searching in the wrong places.

Because most people are either disconnected, or they are connected to the wrong network.

Does He sort out ALL of our problems? Many would say no. However, He does specialize in attitudes. Sometimes He changes our circumstances. Sometimes He changes our attitudes, how we feel and think about the terrible things that happen to us. And if we "feel and think" about our problems in better ways..., WE CAN CHANGE OUR ACTIONS!!! 

Paul, an apostle who wrote 13 book in the New Testament, writes in Romans 8:35: " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?" Also in Romans 8:38-39: " For I am persuaded that neither death,  nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,  nor powers, nor things present,  nor things to come,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So, the next time you feel that the circumstances of the world are threatening your existence, or the next time you feel that the circumstances at home or at work are getting the better of you, or when you feel that you're losing hope that it will ever be better. Connect with the most connected human being who ever lived. Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior!

His message, or tweet. or post to you today is an attachment of the scripture in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to Me all, who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

He removes THE CARE ABOUT the troubles we face. and He removes THE FEAR FOR the worst, and then He REPLACES it with PEACE OF MIND!

NOW, THAT'S A GREAT DEAL!!   Isn't it?

Connect and follow the Most Connected Human in history of the world!

May the ONE be with you!