How are you doing despite the extended period of lockdown and self-isolation? How are you living your life during this pandemic?
Perhaps, you’re caught in the undercurrents of hope mingled with despair. That feeling that things will get better, that despite the news and the reports that the pandemic will soon come to an end.
But then, there also those moments of fear, where we are inundated with how real it all is. For most of us, we know people who have the virus and may even know those who have succumbed to it.
These are truly unprecedented times.
We may try not to imagine the possibility of this season being our new normal but what if it were, how would we fare?
How would you live your life if you had to go through this for a few more months or years?
How would it impact your life and more importantly, what would you do differently?
These are a few things that have been on my mind these past few weeks.
Recently, I had heard from a few people who complained about how bored and tired they were.
They felt listless and restless.
At first, I couldn’t really relate since my work schedule hadn’t changed much(I was working remotely even before the pandemic).
Then it happened to me.
I had been going through my usual daily routine until last week Thursday. At some point, I ignored my to-do list and avoided most social interactions. I was bone-weary and tired and I just couldn’t do any of it any more.
I felt that restlessness in my mind, my spirit and my body.
The extended period of staying home without the usual freedom of going out, of living on my own terms had finally gotten to me and I hadn’t been expecting it.
It seemed like the tide had turned and not in a good way.
I knew something had to give but wasn’t exactly sure how to go about it!
It was around this time I realized that the biggest battle some of us will face, in this Covid-19 season, will not be against the coronavirus but against our minds.
The battle to conquer our thoughts, our fears and proclivities.
I also realized that I had unwittingly ignored the devices of the devil. Who, unbeknownst to me, has been working overtime to get us.
During this moment, it felt like my mind was trying to comprehend a million things per minute.
It was suffocating and I needed to shut out the noise.
Since I couldn’t get myself to do any more work, I decided to do some reading. I would usually go for a fiction book but ended up picking up a copy of Fervent by Priscilla Shirer.
This book changed so much.
It helped me put things in perspective. It helped me fight the good fight, rather than give up or give in to the feeling of restlessness.
It also reminded me that so many of us are in this place of bone-weary tiredness, hopelessness and have given up. We have accepted these feelings as our new reality and are not fighting it with the weapons we have in Christ.
We have in many ways underestimated our enemy. Forgetting that he is always working to bring God’s people down
The devil is always poking at our mistakes, our insecurities, our weaknesses and everything he can use to amplify our fears, our worries and our shame.
For some of us, we will experience unimaginable mental fatigue, for others, it will be depression, burnout and a host of other attacks on our minds.
We may want to give up, to stop trying believing there will be no point in doing anything.
Sis, I don’t know if you’re already in this place but I pray you stand firm against the devices of the enemy.
The devil is the one who kills, steals and destroys. We can’t give him room to pick at us. We need to take heed lest we fall into his games and his ploys.
He steals our peace, our hope and our sanity. He paints a picture of a lost world that is beyond redemption; he tells us that our reality will be loneliness, financial difficulties, rejection and strife.
Don’t believe him!
My recent experience was surreal, I didn’t see it coming but now I know not to fear when I feel this way.
In life, there will be moments when we will be tired and restless, moments when we will feel an unimaginable burden and also a slump.
These are moments when our pace slows down and at such times, rather than beating ourselves up over our lack of productivity or seriousness, we need to understand them for what they are— reminders that we are human.
Reminders that life is not one big straight road, but is filled with speed bumps, puddles and gulleys.
These are humbling moments and if nothing else, they are supposed to remind us that we can’t do life alone.
We need God every step of the way.
I truly thank God for helping me through such a vulnerable time. For His grace that led me to read a book when I could have wallowed. I’m so grateful I did something that built my faith and resolve in Him rather than feeling sorry for myself.
See, that’s the thing –in moments like this, we often spend our time feeling sorry for ourselves, we often continue the cycle by feeding ourselves with the wrong things. We may go back to vices, our secret sins, harmful habits, fears and anything but the things we really need…God’s grace and mercy
And I totally understand.
I have been there, done that and still find myself living a life that doesn’t fully trust in the loving grace and guidance of my heavenly father.
But we can’t stay down.
Here’s what Jesus said to his disciples and I believe he is saying to you and me today:
“And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth…”
John 14:16-17
Our Lord and Saviour gave us the Holy Spirit to be our guide and our helper to remain with us forever. Not for a few months or a few years but forever.
Isn’t that incredible?
Which is why we need to lean into the Holy Spirit.
We need to rest in Him, to rest our minds, His way and allow him to tend to our souls as only He can.
No one can understand us better than the One who created us.
If you’re in this place of mental and physical fatigue, if you feel like giving up, lonely, bone-tired, depressed and out of luck, have no fear for God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.
The incredible thing is that it is in our darkest and lowest moments that God’s resurrection light shines brightest.
Don’t run from your father or believe you’re a bad Christian for being depressed, scared, tired, unhappy and all other things running through our minds.
Just go to Him and see Him do what only He can do.
Just the other day, I came across what Jesus told Peter just before he was arrested:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31(NIV)
These words pierced deep into my soul.
They are an incredible reminder of God’s love for us.
He is aware of the devices of the enemy but is not giving up on us and I pray you don’t give up on yourself, or on others.
Sis, you can overcome this slump, no matter how bad things may be.
My prayer for you
Sis, I pray you will stand strong through the trials and tribulations that will come your way, in this season. I pray you will count it all joy knowing that the testing of your faith will build you up in every way and help you live a life that is in alignment with your father’s will.
I also pray for God’s healing power over anyone infected with the virus. May the blood of Our Saviour and Lord sanctify and heal every ailment, according to the power of His word and in accordance with His will.
In Jesus name. Amen.
I will leave you with the words of Isaiah 40
“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even the youth will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31
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