If you’re like me you look at the news today and remembering the events of the last five years, you wonder what next? Wars and rumors of wars, race riots, political instability, a pandemic, religious uncertainty, the disintegration of marriage, skyrocketing levels of addiction, suicide, abortion–broken families, broken hearts, broken lives…

If you spend too much time on social media or online news you are having the bad news shipped into your life from around the world instantly. So how to find peace of mind in troubled times?

First thing is pray more. Prayer has practical benefits as well as eternal consequences. Prayer turns your mind to eternal things. You’re focussing on the big picture and knowing that there is a larger and more loving plan for the world–one that transcends the everyday troubles and trials. In fact, that greater plan is always operating in and through the troubles–the Planner always bringing good out of evil.

Second, read the Bible every day. The best way to do this is through the regular, disciplined reading of the Liturgy of the Hours. Morning and Evening Prayer turns your heart and mind away from the news cycle to the Good News cycle. When you read the psalms and the rest of the Scriptures you realize the greater history of mankind has always been one of conflict and battle, sin and repentance, falling and getting up again.

Third, while it is good through Prayer and Scripture to be immersed in the wide screen, big picture, it is also good to turn from the distressing news cycle to what is local. Think of the national and international news cycle as the mid-screen. God’s perspective (available through prayer and Scripture) is the big screen. The news is mid screen. What is local is small screen. Ask yourself at what level you can actually DO something about the distressing news cycle–the madness in the world.  You can’t actually do much about lunatic politicians, the threat of totalitarianism, radical ideologues threatening violence, economic, ecological or international collapse.

But you CAN DO something at the local level. Saying your prayers, working hard, loving your family, building friendships, raising fine children, supporting your church, serving the poor, these are all things everyone can do to change the world. Furthermore, when you focus on these things you soon see that most ordinary people are ok. They’re not perfect, but they’re not lunatics either. They too simply want to love God and love their neighbor, and if they are not on that wavelength just tune them out. They’re drains. Avoid the drains.

These three paradigm shifts will soon bring you to a place of peace.

Despite the turmoil, trials and troubles, maintain your peace. What’s the promise?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Don’t be alarmed. All shall be well.