STAYING SANE IN THE UNCERTAINTY
Photo by Jessica Susana
Hey there. I think it’s safe to say we are in a season of uncertainty, and many people are feeling very anxious and overwhelmed. I have had waves of these emotions throughout the past few days in thinking of what life will look like, especially being a mom and raising two littles who are quite active and like to go out (ha). So, I have made a conscious decision to lean into my faith and trust in the Lord, be smart and considerate of everyone else, and make the most of this upcoming season.
I am not a medical personnel, so I don’t feel it is my place to make many statements specifically regarding COVID-19. However, I will say that our family is self-quarantining as best we can, as well as being diligent in staying healthy and washing our hands. We are committing to standing alongside our community and are continually trying to find ways to help.
So how am I combating my anxious thoughts when they start to arise? There are three main ways I am fighting against the anxious and overwhelming feelings. First, I am leaning into my faith. I know that ultimately God has the victory, and I trust Him fully. So, while being in the moment it can be easy to start to feel anxious, I turn back to His truth. Here are some of my favorite scriptures to help stay grounded during this time:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surprises all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:1-2
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25
“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“’Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth!’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:10-11
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
The second thing I am leaning into during this season is gratitude. We have so much to be thankful for, and I am choosing to focus on all the good. There is still so much good in the world, whether that be through the blessings we have or seeing people come together and help each other. I choose to focus on that. I know there’s a lot of chaos occurring right now. Fear of job loss and health risks, moms panicking looking for formula, but let us stand together during this season and remind the enemy (who is loving the chaos) that our God is bigger. And God’s church and people are not going to stay silent.
If you want to help, I have listed some organizations below who are doing so much good, whether through supplying meals or helping those who are hurting:
Baby2Baby is collecting donations to provide baby supplies for those in need.
TogetherWeRise is helping foster youth who have been displaced due to their on-campus housing closing.
LA Food Bank is helping provide food and meals to people in need.
Save the Children is helping send people out to educate on prevention and care.
Feed America lets you search for food banks in your area that needs donations.
The final thing I’m leaning into during this season is quality family time. I’ve found that some people are creating and sticking to schedules for their kids, while others are staying cozy with movies and baking. I think it is important that we don’t compare ourselves during this time. If schedules are what your family does well at – that’s awesome! If you are trying to remain sane and your kids are having more screen time than usual, that’s okay too! For us, we are a mix of both. I’m trying to be intentional with the activities we are doing with the boys, but we are also way more relaxed with our usual expectations of what the days should be. Just remember, give yourself grace, mamas. Don’t compare to other moms and what works for them. It will only drive you crazy that much sooner. Please do what you need, be present with your family, and let’s make the most of this time we’ve been given to create unique memories.
I hope this is an encouragement to you during this time. If there is anything specific you would like prayer for, or even a need you or someone you know desperately has, please feel free to reach out, and we will do our best to help in any way we can.