“Action is the antidote to despair.” — Joan Baez, singer-songwriter
Desperation can have a paralyzing effect on us. We might feel surrounded by our circumstances, unable to find the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel.” Sensing no hope, we become immobilized — thinking there is nothing we can do.
We look at the high numbers of children in foster care and wonder, “What can one person or family do?”
We see the faces of poverty and feel poor in our ability to do something.
It might be our own financial situation or a difficult season with a child. When a problem moves from an annoyance to a nuisance to an albatross … we’re closer to despair.
Joan Baez is right: action is the antidote to despair.
Often when we take action, even a small action, we begin to feel better. We might not be able to feed the world, but we can feed one person. And that’s how change begins. Hope rekindles. Despair starts to evaporate.
So when you sense yourself moving closer to despair, do something, anything. Take action!