I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
Psalm 121:1
We praise You, LORD Jesus, Creator of the heavens and the earth, for guiding us safely through the good and the rough times. Enable us to always cling to You. Help us to focus on Your Word day by day. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.
Everything is so different this year. I didn’t have time to prepare for the things that are happening at the moment. It’s just like relearning how to live.
I’m overwhelmed by emotions of having real low lows and immense high highs. One minute I’m “okay” and the next minute I can’t stop crying. In the morning things might be perfectly “normal” and later on it all feels like a bad dream I want to wake up from.
Do you remember what it felt like at the very beginning of this corona virus? I mean, all the sudden, the whole world shut down. “Is this for real?” I thought back then. I just wanted to wake up to “solved.” But it didn’t happen.
Today, weeks later, I’m more or less used to this lockdown by now, something else shook my world. And I find myself in a complete new situation facing this humongous mountain of sorrows and worries.
How can I survive that tremendous ride on the rollercoaster of emotions? How can you face your own time of trouble? What’s the medication for life so we can continue living during these hard times?
Let me give you a few things to look out for:
1 Most of all you need to focus and cling to the One, the only One, who can help and carry you through this. I will get back to that at the end of my post.
2 I had to find a new way and routine of doing things. And so will you. For me it was getting back into exercise while listening to worship music on my mp3 player. Think: What helps you to release that extra amount of energy? What is it that will bring you “down to earth?” How are you able to relax and take your focus off that burdensome mountain? You need to reach a point to become calm and still.
3 Yes, you need to share good and bad news. Keep a small circle of trustworthy women who are close to you. You need someone to encourage you to “Press on!” Choose a friend you can call when things get tough and when you need a good cry. Carefully select a few sisters in Christ you feel comfortable enough with so that you can make yourself vulnerable and share your thoughts with them.
4 What ever is happening to you at the moment: Don’t google it. My precious sister in Christ reminded me of that. It was not on my list here but, since she mentioned it, I thought I pass it on to you.
5 Especially if you are in a time of grief, remember, most people do not know how to handle and comfort the ones who are going through grief. They want you to “get over it and move on.” Or, as my dear friend said this morning: “The world wants to put a lid on top of it.” God has made you special and unique. You might not be as strong as someone else. So it could take you a lot longer working through this hardship.
6 People, as soon as they’ll find out, will flood you with text messages, emails, or calls. At least some will. Tell most of them that you are “okay” having a small circle of people who are helping you through this and who are praying with and for you at the moment. They should understand. If not, don’t worry about it!
7 Take care of your body as well as of your spirit. Give your best to get enough sleep, drink a good amount of water, and eat healthy.
Back to point 1. Let’s read Psalm 121 together:
1 A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Your help comes from the LORD. Trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding.