Say it out loud

When life hurls you a monstrous curve ball… the loss of a job, death of a dream, financial disaster, crushing death of someone you love- rather than trying to spin the calamity and pretend it’s all good, sometimes it helps to call it what it is, This Is Hard.

Boy, that felt good.

Nobody saw it coming when, (12 months ago!) an invisible virus suddenly brought life as we knew it to a screeching halt across the globe. The grief people around the planet have experienced is real, fresh and unprecedented. Church of the City (NYC) Pastor, Jon Tyson reminded us, “if we don’t grieve now, later we will grieve in unhealthy ways.”  Truth!

But, what does healthy grief look like? What can I do today to help me come out mentally and physically strong when this storm passes?

1) Acknowledge the situation. Say it out loud or write your thoughts in a journal. Tell the Lord how you’re feeling about what you’re going through.  Angry? Overwhelmed? Anxious? Isolated? You can tell Him. It’s OK. He already knows. 

2) EGR.  Extra grace required. A local church billboard recently said, “If your world is upside down, go to the Lord. He’ll turn it around.”

Wait- then won’t your world be upside down and backwards? Sorry, it just struck my funny bone.

Seriously, though, when life is upside down- we’re not always going to handle every relationship and every situation perfectly. That’s OK. Give yourself and others extra grace. We’ve never lived through a global pandemic before!

Nobody saw it coming when we woke up to an entire year of:

• grieving without the comfort of gathering
• social distancing when you really need to hug somebody
• involuntary homeschooling

• virtual everything from doctor visits to happy hours
• sports with no spectators

Is anyone else having to quote James 1:19 over and over… “quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry?” Or is it just me? 

3) Pray. Do you ever want to pray, but the words don’t come?

I love that we don’t have to have perfect words to pray, but can ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us. Romans 8:26 promises that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. And when we don’t have the words to pray,  the Spirit will intercede for us in a mighty way. 

4) Look for the good things

Lord, please touch the person reading this who feels alone, isolated or forgotten. For the one who is anxious, hurting, sick or grieving, please bring Your comfort and healing. Show us your goodness, even in the midst of the chaos.

Amen.