Staying Emotionally Healthy
by Rev. Dodd Drake
When I was in elementary school one of my best friends was Mark Davidson. We were next door neighbors and did about everything together. Upstairs in my house in one of the bedrooms we had a large attic space inside the closet we used for storage. One day we were playing cards in there, and Mark quickly jumped up, ran out the door and locked me in.
I panicked! My claustrophobia kicked in, adrenaline was rushing through my eyeballs (ok, maybe not, but felt like it). I kept trying to open the door but it would not budge. I felt like I was drowning and needed air. I went back as far as I could in that room, ran as hard as I could, and just about busted the door off the hinges, escaping impending death. OK, you may be laughing, but I was panicking. Fear had taken over and I lost all sense of self and objectivity.
That is what panic feels like, and in smaller degrees anxiety and fear. During these past few weeks we all have been experiencing fear and anxiety on some level, and possibly anger. Some of us have lost jobs or fearful we will lose our jobs. Some of us have friends who are sick with COVID19, or fearful we or loved ones may become sick. Some are arguing more frequently being in confinement with family or roommates.
We are isolated, disrupted, and uncertain about the future. People are dying, and our economy is collapsing. Like me being locked in the attic locked in our COVID19 world, and we can lose objectivity. We do not know the future and how bad things will become, which is part of the source of our anxiety and stress. But we do know God who holds the future, who is good and trustworthy, who will sustain and be with us in our unknown future. We can forget who God is, who we are, and anxiety can start shooting through our fingertips (OK, too many Marvel Movies).
As someone who has experienced depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, I wanted to share a few things helpful for me during this time.
First, cling to the reality God IS with us. He has not abandoned us, nor will He ever. I don’t know what He is up to in COVID 19, but I do know He is using this fire of a trial (1 Peter 1:6-7) to heal the anxiety and fear that is always below the surface of our lives. During the heat of stress, our false beliefs and false hopes rise to the surface so we can bring them to Him, the healer of our souls, and ask Him to heal, purify, and set us free in Christ. It is ok to struggle and need Jesus in our brokenness.
Second, pay attention to your emotions. How are you feeling? What is going on inside you? Are you feeling alone, isolated, abandoned? Are you growing in depression or despair? Do not ignore or stuff, or just stay busy so you don’t have to feel. God is inviting you and me to experience His healing love in deeper and fresh ways.
The Psalms are our model of experiencing and expressing all our emotions to God. Biblical prayer and worship are pouring out our hearts to Him in our need, looking to Him for healing and renewal. Be aware of your soul and emotions, talk about with Him and close friends about how you are doing.
Third, process your emotions with Him, and with a friend. Spend time soaking in God’s Presence, His Word and His Promises. Take time to worship and to gaze on the beauty and love of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Let God love on you and bring the Healing He longs to bring. Here are several ways that have helped me connect with my heart with the heart of God.
· Being with God in prayer and His Word. When I spend unrushed time in communion with my Abba, being present to Him, sharing my heart, and listening to Him through His Word and Prayer, I experience rest. He and He alone is our Sabbath Rest.
· Thanksgiving. When I am overly focused or consumed with hurtful emotions or struggles, I lose my sense of who God is and His faithfulness. Thanksgiving gets our eyes off of us and our struggles, and onto His goodness and love.
· Journaling. Record what is going on in our heart and talk to God in words. Be attentive to the nudges of the Spirit, see where He takes you. He often reminds me of what is true, speaks His peace into me, and guides me with wisdom.
· Read. There are many great books the help us connect with God in ways that bring rest and peace. Several that have deeply impacted me: The Return of the Prodigal by Henri Nowen, Abba’s Child and Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning, Prayer by Richard Foster, and Trusting God by Jerry Bridges.
· Prayer walks. This helps both with the stress built up in our body as well as helps us talk with God, especially when we struggle being still.
· Stay connected with friends and family. When you need to talk about stress or anxiety, reach out to someone who cares for you and talk about what is going on. Feeling alone and isolated makes the stress far worse. Do not go through this crisis alone!! Reach out to your small group leader, or to me, if you need help in this!
· Reach out and serve others. God has wired us to be other-centered the way He is. When we care for others, we find life. If we focus primarily on ourselves and are not practically loving others, we will become miserable. Call someone and ask how they are doing! Take time to pursue others, to listen and connect and serve as the body of Christ.
· Take time for fun. What are you doing that refreshes and restores your soul? Painting? Planting flowers? Gardening? Wood working? Building bird houses? Writing poetry? Singing? Playing an instrument? Cooking? Baking? Photography? It is important to take time to be lost in fun!
We are all in this together. You are not alone. May we be faithful to God and how he is seeking to transform us during this season. May we cling to Him, and grow in emotional and spiritual well-being, for His glory and for the sake of others.
In His Peace. Dodd Drake.