A global ongoing pandemic, Covid-19, has shaken the world and changed our lives.
How Has Covid Affected You?
The first way it did was to feel us with fear! According to studies, the pandemic has caused us to have feelings of exhaustion, anxiety, nervousness, stress, and uncertainty.
But it may feel like the pandemic is over and that we should be fine. But it’s like a car accident – you will feel some bodily and emotional responses after the accident is over, not during. I’ve been in three serious car accidents and they have left me with neck and shoulder issues. I’ve also had trauma-like feelings that I’ve had to work through.
The enemy is always ready to use something like this pandemic to wear us down? First, we can be left with feelings, like exhaustion, anxiety, nervousness, stress, or uncertainty. Secondly, we shut down and fail to nourish ourselves:
- We don’t nurture and care for our body, soul and spirit
- We stay home a lot more and spend less time doing helpful things and being with others
- We fail to exercise and take care of ourselves physically
- We don’t take time to read but instead spend a lot of time on all kinds of media
- We are too tired after a day at work to do anything
- We feel powerless and out of control
- We find it easier to become Irritated or frustrated in everyday life
On a more serious note, we might even end up using:
- An addictions as a way of escape or
- Become depressed or have feelings of suicide
How has Covid Affected us Spiritually?
We know that its affected us all Emotionally. But have you ever realized how it might have affected you spiritually?
- Some people choose to stay home and not take time to worship at church and be a part of the community of face-to-face support
- We also may be too tired to pray or do things that connect us to God
- We may become distracted and move our eyes onto something else
Recovering from Covid
God is our LIFELINE! So we must prioritize him in our life or the enemy will try to win this battle! We must also take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and spirituallly because we are the temple of God (I Cor. 3:16). Here are a few things that have helped me:
- Plan a time each day (even put it on your calendar) to be with God.
- Spend time journaling each day. It will allow the Spirit of God to be your counselor and let go of the distracting emotions and happenings in your life.
- Try choosing more healthy things to eat
- Exercising. especially outside in nature, can help restore you
- Use a free phone App called, “Lectio 365” that offers a devotional in the morning and evening. It is so refreshing and helpful!
- Another helpful phone App is one that can help anxiety, stress release, clearing your mind, or settling down for sleep, etc. It is called the “Breathwrk App”. Proper breathing can help you a lot with your emotions. It can also help prepare you for meditating by allowing you to relax and feel calm.
- And finally, another helpful phone App is “One Minute Pause App”, a free App by John Eldredge. I have especially been helped by his “30 Days to Resilient” section. He is teaching me to let go of my emotions, open my heart to God, and allow God to be the priority of my life.
God is the power source and can help you heal from the “after-affect” of this Covid 19 experience and any other stresses in your life.
“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge.” (Psalm 73:28)
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