Coronavirus has changed what’s normal and has affected my mood. There have been so many changes in such a short amount of time. New restrictions weekly. Now I must wear a mask when I shop. I hate not seeing people’s faces. Facial expressions are so key to communication. I haven’t seen anyone all week except my family. Then I go to the store and see people, but they are terse, guarded and distant.
At home I cannot slide into my normal routines because my house is full of family. We are each trying to do our own thing. My husband is working in the living room, using the TV screen as a second screen. He is often on conference calls and needs us to be quiet. My daughter is sitting at the dining room table, on her computer doing classes and homeschooling. My adult son is upstairs, furloughed, and is gaming to pass the time. I get to feed four hungry people three times a day with weird food choices from our store. This is not my normal and it’s affecting me at a different level. I feel locked up inside.
Prayer: Morning God, it’s time to start my far-from-normal day. I give you my thoughts. I’m sorry I’m not feeling all together today. My body is fine but my mind is locked up. Please find the key and unlock it for me.
God’s word to us: The key is joy. Ask Me for joy and you will feel unlocked. Whenever your joy is robbed, think of things you can be joyful about instead of thinking about this pandemic and its problems. You’ll feel released from the doldrums.
I spent a few minutes listing things I was joyful about. As a result I felt much better when I did. I thanked God for showing me the key to unlock my mind this morning. I heard His kind words back to me saying, “I’m working for you and those things will get done but you need to do your part and get your stuff done.”
Now that I was unlocked, I could get my work done. I was so thankful God had shown me how to get out of the doldrums I was in. Doldrums: a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression. The “doldrums” is a popular nautical term that refers to the belt around the Earth near the equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck on windless waters.
During this unprecedented pause in our lives, we can feel stuck. We can lose our joy.
My Heart’s Cry was for God to get my mind unstuck. Sometimes I just sit and stare out the window. I replay in my mind all the bad news I’ve heard in the past 24 hours. God so lovingly gave me the key! He doesn’t want to see me down and depressed at what is going on in our world.
Let God’s words from Psalms soothe you:
“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.”
It is so important to give to the Lord every condition of your heart and mind. Talk to Him. Let Him know. Ask Him for help. He answers. He sets us free. You don’t have to be locked up anymore.
Answers to a weary soul
- Pray – It’s time to talk to God about it. You may feel lonely but you aren’t alone. But it is your choice whether or not you will talk to God. He is always there. It’s a promise.
- Trust God – He’s working all this out for you. Reread the verses above that talk about trusting God and His great provision for you.
- Joy – Ask for joy and use the key He’s given us to unlock our mind from self pity. Try it, start listing things you are thankful for. This stops our mind from trying to solve our problems and refocuses it on God. He is still in charge. We were created to worship Him.
- Get busy – Do the things you know you should be doing to help your loved ones. Sometimes I’ll hop in the shower during the day instead of first thing in the morning. It refreshes me and helps me to start doing something productive.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Take time today to check your mood. Are you joyful or do you feel locked up? Choose to do the practical steps I’ve listed above so your mind will be at peace and be joyful. As women, we set the tone for the household. We can bless our family with love when we are healthy in our heart and mind. We can look into their eyes and really be present, listening to them. Joy for ourselves. Joy to share.
Have a joy-filled day.
Kim
Psalm 34:4-10 NLT
Proverbs 4:23 NLT
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