The needs of the world overwhelm me. Am I too sensitive?

Answer

Sensitivity to the world’s needs is a positive indication that you are not entirely self-absorbed. Pain, hunger, sorrow, and tragedy are common in this once-perfect world, now impacted by the consequences of sin (Genesis 3:16-19). With the advent of satellites and the internet, we are inundated with real-time information from across the globe, and our reactions to the needs we witness can vary from indifference to anxiety to despair. Apathy is not a choice for a Christian, but neither is anxiety or hopelessness. We aim to stay attuned to needs and acknowledge the dire struggles in the world, while also understanding how to establish emotional boundaries for ourselves. Without these boundaries, we may succumb to depression or anger. We desire to be responsive to needs without being overwhelmed by them. We aim to grieve over the world’s state without relinquishing hope.

Jesus should always serve as our example. We can observe His time on earth to learn how He navigated life in a world teeming with needs. His heart was compassionate: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” «But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. », (Matthew 9:36). The Bible documents two occasions when Jesus wept: He wept at Lazarus’ gravesite «Jesus wept. », (John 11:35), and He wept over Jerusalem’s unyielding sin (Luke 19:41-42). His heart was tender, and witnessing the impact of death and sin brought Him to tears. However, Jesus did not stop there.

He did not allow Himself to be overwhelmed. He recognized the enormity of the problem, yet He did not succumb to anxious thoughts or fall into depression. He understood His identity and purpose. He had descended to earth on a mission «And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, », (Luke 9:51). He was not just sorrowful about the human condition; He felt compassion and took action (Mark 1:38;Luke 4:43;2 Corinthians 5:21).

Paul is another illustration of someone attuned to the needs around him. He poured out his life like a drink offering for the benefit of others (Philippians 2:17;2 Timothy 4:6). In Romans 9:2, Paul expresses grief over the lost state of his fellow Hebrews. The Corinthians, in particular, saddened him with their immaturity and worldliness, and he conveyed his sorrow to them: “For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you” «For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. », (2 Corinthians 2:4). The needs of the world often brought Paul sorrow, yet it was not a powerless sorrow. He was appointed by God to be a preacher to the Gentiles «that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. », (Romans 15:16)), and he faithfully did what he could to further the gospel of truth.

It is good to be sensitive to the needs of the world (Proverbs 14:21; Proverbs 19:17). One of the characteristics of the wicked is their “unfeeling heart” «They are inclosed in their own fat: With their mouth they speak proudly. », (Psalm 17:10, NASB). But our sensitivity must lead to positive action. The needs of the world, as weighty as they are, can overwhelm us when we remain motionless in our sorrow. We click through stories of tragedy, feel an ache in our hearts, but do nothing. Because the needs seem so overwhelming, we cannot imagine that we can do anything about it, so we do nothing. However, taking action of some kind puts our sorrow to work. Christian humanitarian organizations abound that are dedicated to the very issues that grip our hearts. By serving, giving, and supporting Jesus’ hands and feet on earth, we can channel inner turmoil into outer productivity.

We cannot solve all the world’s problems, but we can help someone. We may not be able to end world hunger, but we can feed one hungry child. We cannot single-handedly stop human trafficking, but we can join our resources with ten thousand others to rescue some victims. We feel overwhelmed when we don’t know what to do. “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” «As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. », (Galatians 6:10). We should be sensitive to needs and then allow our sorrow to propel us to action. God does not hold us responsible for solving the world’s problems, only for being obedient to everything He has placed before us.(Proverbs 3:27; John 9:4; 2 Corinthians 9:7). When we do that, we can entrust the rest of it to Him.