GLOBAL. According to the United Nations’ platform to address the global issues that cannot be resolved by any one country, the UN is spearheading humanity’s struggle to survive. They list nine major issues they see plaguing the world:
* Climate change – causing severe shifts in weather patterns which in turn affects food supply
* Wars and military conflicts – high number of refugees, asylum-seekers and victims of devastation
* Water contamination – pollution and disease
* Human rights violation – gender inequality and human trafficking
* Global health issues – pandemics that majorly disrupts daily life
* Poverty – hunger, disease, and serious health issues
* Children’s poor access to healthcare and education
* Hunger – malnutrition and death
* Illegal immigration
What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love; No not just for some, but for everyone. (lyrics by Jackie Deshannon, 1965)
NATIONAL. Gallup conducted a poll this year asking Americans what they believe are the biggest issues the USA is facing right now. Here are their findings in the order and rank of concern:
* Big Government with Poor Leadership
* Inflation and Devaluing American currency
* Immigration
* Economy in general
* Failure to unify the Fragmenting Country
* Racism
* Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness
* Crime and Violence
* Moral Family Decline
This land is your land and this land is my land, from California to the New York island, from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters, this land was made for you and me. (written in 1940 by Woody Guthrie)
FAMILY. Common, but major, problems families struggle with that are raising havoc for the family unit include:
* Lack of justice for those who commit crimes causing family trauma
* Decline of faith
* Lack of quality family time in a digital age
* Lack of programs to help struggling families financially, medically, emotionally, and spiritually
* Drugs and Alcohol
* Lack of good jobs
* Sexual permissiveness and the gender identity movement
* Changing the definition of marriage between one man and one woman 3 John 1:4
* Abuse – emotionally, physically, and verbally
* Loss of face-to-face communication skills
* Skyrocketing divorce rate
* Trying to function in a dysfunctional family
The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing. (Eva Burow)
Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions, yet our roots remain the same. (Anonymous)
Where there is family, there is love. (John Wooden)
INDIVIDUAL. Individual struggles are as varied as each person who bears them, but the most familiar ones encompass:
* Feeling unloved, unwanted, lonely
* Feeling worthless, without purpose, inadequate
* Feeling fearful, anxious, worrisome
* Feeling depressed, hopeless, grief-stricken
* Feeling angry, negative, bitter
* Pressures – career, financial, work/life balance
* Struggles – health issues, starting and maintaining friendships, processing feelings
My conclusion: The ideal world cannot exist by human efforts alone. Only God can and will bring this to pass when Jesus sets up His kingdom for eternity. America, like the Titanic, has sunk to the depths of the sea of depravity and darkness. Only God can rescue our nation if we humble ourselves before Him. America may not rise to be a great and powerful nation again, but God is calling its people to a higher calling – to be children of God. But as many as received Him, who believe in His name, to them He gave the right to be called children of God. John 1:12 We have the promised hope of eternal life!