What Sells?

 I read it in my social media feed and something about it makes me pause long: 

Most good news happens slowly. Most bad news happens fast. This is why we're constantly bombarded by negative headlines.

And I'm remembering the brain science that clearly states we're five-times as likely to retain a negative thought from a positive one because our bodies are wired for protection, safety. Which means that anyone who wishes on any level to be someone of hope is swimming against the tide of their own physiology and a culture that is playing to all our default settings. It's as if the idea of deep-in-the bones joy, peace that can't be taken, rest for the weary all become distant fantasies in a daily life of instant negativity. It's like you must go on a life-hunt for the stuff that really bolsters a dying faith, an aching heart. Because unless you are seeing evidence that your soul has reason to go on, the only reasonable thing seems to be giving up.  

I'm beginning to wonder: if it's true that "most good news happens slowly," then it's likely we're all missing out on the greatest wonder. It's quite plausible we're all living below what we were designed for because our self-protective measures, coupled with a world swirling with fast-traveling negativity, are blocking us from ever seeing the beauty right in front of us - the things that cause your heart to rise and your belief to return in the things that really matter. Things like our shared humanity, community, faith, belonging, kindness, hope. And when you turn and ask yourself what Jesus said the realest life actually looks like, you discover it isn't anything like the one most of us are content to exist in. 

Take one look at the Kingdom and you'll quickly realize that it's the flip of what our modern world wants us to be: 

Culture says, Hustle after what you want! If you don't keep going after your goals, someone else will pass you up and get what you worked for! Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Culture says, Don't miss a minute of the news because if something bad happens, don't you want to be the first to know about it? The Bible says, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). 

Culture says, Sleep is for weak people. people without any drive. REAL people get things done at all costs. You can catch up on sleep on vacation or once you retire. The Bible says, "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." 

Culture says, Be worried about everything! The Bible says, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." 

Don't you see the flip now? 

See where it all goes upside down in the most right-side-up kind of way? 

As we're constantly slamming our retinas with more data, more despair, more trouble, more disaster, driving up our blood pressure, activating our fear systems, flooding our bodies with stress hormones, keeping ourselves up at night trying to solve it all and wrap our understanding and control around things too big for us to handle... there comes this whisper of an invitation: Come to Me and I will give you rest. hope. peace of mind. provision. Do life My way and you will discover the realest life with the greatest meaning you ever wanted. 

What sells in this world is anxiety-inducing information, suffering, struggle, and impending doom. 

What sells in the Kingdom of God is hope. 

People come to Jesus because they are tired. weary. burdened with cares. frustrated. failures. out of answers. despairing. at the end of their rope. People come to Jesus when they've run out of options and hope has eluded them everywhere else. And once they hear that blessed invitation and begin to taste what life His way looks like, suddenly everything begins to make sense. There is hidden beauty in the ashes. There is joy in the suffering. There is forever-hope in the impossible. No, these things may not make the headlines, but they are the headlines to the fullest life. They are the pathway to a testimony worth telling. 

Perhaps the ways of God are less easily perceived at times. Maybe He moves more mysteriously and slowly than our fast-paced world would like. And yes, possibly that even makes you look like a fool for believing in and living life by the less hurried, instantaneous, anxious path. But the value of going at the pace of the Master is where wholeness and worth is truly found. No person who ever made that choice to respond to such an invitation ever regretted it. And the patience that is built through knowing how to expectantly wait on the good stuff grows in you a faith that can't ever be shaken. 

So maybe it's time to step out of the culture narrative and decide that your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional peace is worth a life-change. Some won't think this pivot is what sells. And in this world, they're right. But somehow, I want to be among those who desire what sells in the Kingdom of God. I want to get off the hamster-wheel of hustling, worrying, negativity and start doing the hard work to teach my brain to see something different. To look at life with the eyes of God. One glimpse through that perspective, and I know I am changed.