SIX THINGS I’VE LEARNED THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
SIX THINGS I’VE LEARNED THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
By Lisa Keane | MAMFC, LPC-S, REGISTERED PLAY THERAPIST SUPERVISOR, NCC
We recently reached the one-year mark of our lives coming to an abrupt stop. One year of very little being normal. Instead, this past year has been spent in much turmoil, anxiety, fear, and the unknown.
Of course, not every single minute of every day has been a horrible event. Everyone has been affected differently. But we have all certainly seen our share of cancelled events, changes in holiday and family gatherings, and even how churches gather with one another, on top of a level of uncertainty that our generations have not experienced before.
In all of this, is there a lesson to be learned? I believe there are many. A recent Pew Research Study says in its latest poll that 86% of US adults agree that there is a lesson to learn from COVID-19.(1)
Today, my questions and reflections have been—what did I learn about myself and about the Lord during this year?
The Lord is gracious. Had I known 1 year ago that we would spend 12 months (and longer) dealing with the effects of COVID, I am not sure I could have handled that truth. Looking back, I can clearly see the Lord gave me what I needed for each day and lit my path for just the area slightly ahead of me. (Psalm 119:105)
I love control too much. Anyone who knows me, knows this is true! I have a false belief that if I am in control, I can stop bad things from happening and control outcomes. As I’ve been reminded to trust Him when anxious, this year has continued to refine my dependence on the Lord in my desire for control and sanctify my pride. (Psalm 56:3)
The Lord is present. Especially in the early days of the shut down, I found myself seeking the Lord’s comfort in ways I had not in a long time. He did not ever shun me away; He did not abandon me in my time of distress, but He was present every time I cried out to Him. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
My body was created to be cared for wholly. God created us body, mind, and spirit, and I cannot neglect these areas to be in a mentally healthy place. When my stress levels rose and my ability to tolerate all the unknowns diminished, not only did I need God’s Word to uplift me, but I needed physical movement, connection with others, and to actively take my thoughts captive. And I am not alone in this. In a recent study by Philips, 70% of adults reported having 1 or more sleep challenges since the beginning of COVID-19.(2) Having sleep challenges will have a significant impact on our ability to tolerate stress. God created all of us, and I need to honor all of me by making healthy choices in all these areas. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
The Lord was not surprised by COVID. I have been encouraged to remember that the Lord knew this was going to happen, and He is in control. That means He has me here for this time, in this place, and with the people around me. This also means I have a purpose during this time that God has ordained. It is my responsibility to faithfully pursue that purpose and not grow dismayed by these unprecedented times. (Isaiah 41:10)
I am capable of doing hard things. There is something to be said for knowing we survived a very difficult time. We need to acknowledge and honor that this year has been hard. Working, parenting, and caring for others and life in general, has had an added layer of stress due to the pandemic. It was and is hard. But we are here, we have survived, and sometimes we have even thrived in the midst of this stress. (Psalm 121:2)
As a therapist, I love to reflect and process with my clients during times of stress so that they have opportunities to grow, learn, and change. If we do not allow ourselves time to stop and process traumas and hardships, the ugly, scary, hard things will creep into our lives in unhealthy ways. This can manifest itself in feelings of anxiety, stress, physical symptoms, and sleep issues just to name a few.
What have you learned from your individual experience during the pandemic over the last 12 months? With the desire for good health in mind, I challenge you to take a moment to reflect on what you have learned this last year, how you have grown, and where you have seen the Lord at work in your life.
Sources:
(1) https://www.pewforum.org/essay/what-lessons-do-americans-see-for-humanity-in-the-pandemic/
(2) https://www.usa.philips.com/c-e/smartsleep/campaign/world-sleep-day