A blast from the past
Driving through the Pocono Mountains on a recent trip, I suddenly realized how things have changed over the years. At the risk of aging myself, I remember needing to find a new radio station on the other side of nearly every hill. Long car rides through unfamiliar areas meant trying to find another good radio station when the last one became consumed with fuzz.
More than once I remember the inconvenience of growing static right in the middle of a good song. Not wanting to give up on a song I was enjoying, I’d focus on the words, straining to hear the lyrics through the increasing fuzz. Sometimes I was amazed how well I could tune out the rather loud, distracting crackles and still hear the words. Despite the annoying radio static, I could still hear and sing to my favorite songs as the station faded away.
Coping with “static”
Thinking about my old road trips, I realized there’s a powerful lesson in radio static. When I experienced it, I had a choice to focus my attention on the lyrics or the fuzz. When the crackles distracted me from the content, I’d change my station. But other times I focused intently on the lyrics and continue to hear the words despite the growing distraction.
Isn’t that exactly what our lives are like? Every day we choose what we’ll listen to. Some days the static of the world can cause us to listen to the wrong things. Do we let it cause us to lose our listening ear focused on God’s quiet whisper?
When the world tries to give you an unwelcome dose of discouragement, see it as static, pure static. Give it the same time, energy, and consideration as you would annoying radio static that’s trying to interrupt your favorite song. You would never turn on a station that is so faint it’s only fuzz, so why listen to noise that the world shouts that contradict what God’s word says?
Examples of static and how to replace it:
| When the world says this, treat it as static: | Replace it with truth: |
| It’s hopeless. | Have hope. God has a plan for you. Jeremiah 29:11 |
| You’re unwanted, unloved, or not worthy. | I am worthy because I have been chosen. Colossians 3:12 |
| You are weak. | I am strong. Philippians 4:13 |
| You’re stuck. | I am delivered. Colossians 1:13 |
| You’re condemned. | I am forgiven. Colossians 1:13-14 |
| You’re a loser. | I am victorious. 1 Corinthians 15:57 |
| No one cares about you. | I am loved. Romans 5:8 |
| You don’t have a purpose. | I am called. 2 Timothy 1:9 |
It’s your turn:
Has it been a while since you’ve heard radio static on a road trip? Can you relate to straining to hear the lyrics as the distractions build? I hope this analogy has encouraged you for the next time life tries to distract you with “noise.”
If that has hit home for you, I’d love to hear from you. Click to comment and join the conversation. And, if it’s encouraged you, why not click to share and encourage someone else too?
Until next time friends, be blessed!
Susan thank you for laying out this Scripture. Your posts are always very applicable to every day life. In Christ, Julie
Thank you Julie. Blessings friend.