I think first, we have to return to our faith. I know some of you may have been away from your faith for awhile and may even have a running anger fest at God, but maybe now is the time to let that go.
Recognize that faith is not faith without the possibility of doubt. To have faith in anything is not to remove all doubts, but to believe that there is enough evidence to believe in and then grow it from there. For with faith, come a host of promises from God that will help you through the crisis at hand.
First, understand that Jesus never said that this life would be pain free and a smooth ride for the believer. In fact, he said just the opposite. In John 16:33 Jesus was speaking and he told His disciples this: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. (emphasis mine) But take heart! I have over come the world."
Even before He tells us about the trouble, He informs us that in Him we can have peace. Suddenly, with the eyes of faith, I can gain a different perspective on the grim outlook. I can let go of some of the anxiety and I can surrender the feelings of being overwhelmed by recognizing that the arrival of the Coronavirus and Covid-19, did not shock God off the throne. It didn't take Him by surprise.
Did He cause it? No. I believe it was caused by living in a sinful world and the fact that the devil is looking to find anyway he can to sweep millions into an early grave. Can God use it for His ultimate good? I believe He already is!
In my own life, it is amazing how much more focused I've gotten on the things in life that really matter. My family. The people I serve. Relationships. And those things that I've been leaning on to keep me propped up, distracted and unfocused suddenly aren't that important anymore. It's surprising how my priorities are coming back into focus! And my realization of how much I (we) truly need God. So I would say a return to faith in God and a settling into His promises can help alleviate the exhaustion, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. Here's a few more promises before we move on.
Psa. 55:22 Give your burdens to the LORD,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. NLT
Or how about this one.
1Pet. 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. NLT
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. NLT
Or how about this one.
1Pet. 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. NLT
The NIV even renders 1Peter 5:7 as: Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Secondly, I would say, take this time to catch up on your sleep. I didn't realize how sleep-deprived I was until I started staying home and suddenly began getting more hours of sleep per night. Just getting good sleep can help you begin to relax a little more. As we adjust to this "new normal" it is easy to begin staying up later, binge watching TV and missing sleep.
Thirdly, establish a new routine so that you aren't just totally burning the hours on Facebook or Instagram or the news channels. Don't stay in your PJ's all day. Getting up and getting ready for the day can actually help you feel more productive and contribute to an overall feeling of well-being. Choose one or two things that you want to try to accomplish by days end. Organizing a room. Cleaning out a closet. Catching up on your around the house to-do list. Anything that will call on your concentration on something besides the Coronavirus will help you begin to help you regain mental health ground. And if you feel productive, you are less likely to slide into a depression.
Fourthly, Unplug for a given amount of time each day. You don't have to be glued to the news cycle 24-7. As a matter of fact, I can tell you that about 95% of it will be bad. And right now...it will be ...are you ready for this...very bad. More deaths. New outbreaks. More shortages. More political posturing. More anger. More frustration. More anxiety over what else the "experts" are predicting is to come. And the fact is, all it does is keep invoking your "fight or flight" mechanism and dumps large quantities of adrenalin into your system and simply causes your fear factor to rise.
Unplug from social media as well. Constantly checking your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or whatever feeds, will only show more of the same you have on the news. I'm not saying to never check them, but I am saying take some hours each day and unplug from it all to allow your anxiety and adrenaline levels to fall. Keeping them on a knife edge all the time will only lead to exhaustion and the lowering of your body's immune system.
Here's a few questions to consider: Are you already doing what you can do to keep you and your family safe? Will knowing the absolute latest as soon as it hits keep you any safer? If you are already doing everything you know, then go ahead and unplug and do something productive and let your energies be channeled towards that. Let your focus be absorbed by that and you will find your anxiety levels beginning to drop.
And last...seek to get in some form of exercise every day. If you have a nearby park and can still get outdoors, try to get a walk in-of course, keeping social distancing rules in play, if not, maybe use the old treadmill and exercise equipment you've had rotting in a room for a while. But move your body some every day. This will boost your immune system, and help get rid of the excess adrenaline your body has been pumping out, and leave you more relaxed and able to sleep better.
Let me leave you with this: Quite a few years back, I watched a Mark Lowry video as he shared his "favorite verse." He then quoted. "And it came to pass..." He stopped and smiled...then continued. "Do you get it? It didn't come to stay! It came to pass." So with a nod to Mark, here is my take on his "favorite verse".
Whatever you are facing today--just know that it will pass. Corona Virus...As hard as it is to believe...It will pass! On the flip side...are you having a great day? Enjoy it! It will pass. Facing tough stuff? Endure it. It will pass. It came...to pass.
God never leaves us stuck. Time moves on and it will pass. Focus on that and these little tips and you can come into a "new normal" soon. And
Secondly, I would say, take this time to catch up on your sleep. I didn't realize how sleep-deprived I was until I started staying home and suddenly began getting more hours of sleep per night. Just getting good sleep can help you begin to relax a little more. As we adjust to this "new normal" it is easy to begin staying up later, binge watching TV and missing sleep.
Thirdly, establish a new routine so that you aren't just totally burning the hours on Facebook or Instagram or the news channels. Don't stay in your PJ's all day. Getting up and getting ready for the day can actually help you feel more productive and contribute to an overall feeling of well-being. Choose one or two things that you want to try to accomplish by days end. Organizing a room. Cleaning out a closet. Catching up on your around the house to-do list. Anything that will call on your concentration on something besides the Coronavirus will help you begin to help you regain mental health ground. And if you feel productive, you are less likely to slide into a depression.
Fourthly, Unplug for a given amount of time each day. You don't have to be glued to the news cycle 24-7. As a matter of fact, I can tell you that about 95% of it will be bad. And right now...it will be ...are you ready for this...very bad. More deaths. New outbreaks. More shortages. More political posturing. More anger. More frustration. More anxiety over what else the "experts" are predicting is to come. And the fact is, all it does is keep invoking your "fight or flight" mechanism and dumps large quantities of adrenalin into your system and simply causes your fear factor to rise.
Unplug from social media as well. Constantly checking your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or whatever feeds, will only show more of the same you have on the news. I'm not saying to never check them, but I am saying take some hours each day and unplug from it all to allow your anxiety and adrenaline levels to fall. Keeping them on a knife edge all the time will only lead to exhaustion and the lowering of your body's immune system.
Here's a few questions to consider: Are you already doing what you can do to keep you and your family safe? Will knowing the absolute latest as soon as it hits keep you any safer? If you are already doing everything you know, then go ahead and unplug and do something productive and let your energies be channeled towards that. Let your focus be absorbed by that and you will find your anxiety levels beginning to drop.
And last...seek to get in some form of exercise every day. If you have a nearby park and can still get outdoors, try to get a walk in-of course, keeping social distancing rules in play, if not, maybe use the old treadmill and exercise equipment you've had rotting in a room for a while. But move your body some every day. This will boost your immune system, and help get rid of the excess adrenaline your body has been pumping out, and leave you more relaxed and able to sleep better.
Let me leave you with this: Quite a few years back, I watched a Mark Lowry video as he shared his "favorite verse." He then quoted. "And it came to pass..." He stopped and smiled...then continued. "Do you get it? It didn't come to stay! It came to pass." So with a nod to Mark, here is my take on his "favorite verse".
Whatever you are facing today--just know that it will pass. Corona Virus...As hard as it is to believe...It will pass! On the flip side...are you having a great day? Enjoy it! It will pass. Facing tough stuff? Endure it. It will pass. It came...to pass.
God never leaves us stuck. Time moves on and it will pass. Focus on that and these little tips and you can come into a "new normal" soon. And
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