Guarding Our Hearts in a Dark World

This morning, I opened my phone to check in on the world. A recipe video. A child’s laughter. Then—without warning—a video of someone’s life being taken. One second joy, the next second tragedy. Horrific violence lay bare before my eyes, without filter or pause. And here’s the unsettling part: this is becoming normal. Scroll. Shock. Gasp. Move on. But brothers and sisters, it should not feel normal.

Death Is Not Entertainment

When Scripture says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23), it’s not a casual suggestion. It is a command. What we see, hear, and dwell on shapes us. When we continually consume violence, outrage, and darkness—even passively—our hearts harden, our compassion dulls, and our hope begins to dim.

The truth is, people’s deaths are not content. They are not “shocking videos.” They are real human beings—souls who bear the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Every replay, every share, risks reducing their lives to entertainment instead of honoring their humanity.

The Subtle Danger of Desensitization

The Apostle Paul warned the church in Rome not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2). Social media thrives on desensitization. It feeds us a diet of extremes—joy to horror, laughter to rage—in mere seconds. The effect? We stop discerning. We stop feeling the weight of sin and suffering.

Desensitization is dangerous because it numbs us to the very things that should grieve us. Instead of weeping with those who weep (Romans 12:15), we scroll past. Instead of praying for peace, we “like” the tragedy and move on.

Guarding Your Heart and Eyes

So how do we protect ourselves from this constant barrage of darkness?

1. Set Boundaries on What You Consume

   Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). What enters your eyes enters your soul. Be intentional about what you allow before them.

   
   

2. Be Quick to Turn Away

   When David resolved, “I will set before my eyes no vile thing” (Psalm 101:3), he made a covenant with himself to look away. We can do the same. You don’t have to finish every video. You don’t have to keep scrolling.

   
   

3. Fill Yourself with What Is Good

   Philippians 4:8 calls us to dwell on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Counter the darkness by seeking out things that honor God and lift your spirit.

   
   

4. Pray for Sensitivity

   Ask God to keep your heart tender. That you would be broken by sin, moved by suffering, and ready to respond with compassion, not apathy. Pray for God to break your heart for the things that break His heart.

Our Hope in Christ

The world is a sick and twisted place at times—but Christ has overcome it (John 16:33). When we guard our hearts, we’re not retreating in fear. We’re standing firm in hope. We resist becoming numb so that we can shine as lights in the darkness (Philippians 2:15).

Let us not grow used to evil. Let us not grow callous to death. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author of life, and let our hearts beat with His compassion.

Because the world doesn’t need more people scrolling.

The world needs more people praying, guarding, and shining.