Pandemic Stress - It's Much More Than Possibly Getting Sick!

- May 4th, 2020 -

It's no secret that during this pandemic we are living in a time of heightened stress. The potential seriousness of contracting the virus is stressful enough. Add to that the forced or voluntary stay at home guidelines that have altered our lives, our routines, and our interactions with each other. Then there are financial concerns both present and future. All of this makes for a season of great stress, not just on one member of the family, the office, or the community, but on everybody simultaneously – which just increases the stress on all of us.

When stress is high relationships can suffer – big time. While some are perhaps enjoying more couple and family time together, others are nor faring so well. Some homes are like powder kegs waiting to explode. What can we do?

First of all, we must realize that circumstances will always be up and down and often uncontrollable. The relationships in our lives however – how we choose to relate to and interact with one another is just that – a choice. Even if we cannot control what others do, we CAN control how we respond to then and even more importantly how we treat them regardless of what they do or do not do.

No, this is not easy – far from it. However, we must realize that making these kinds of choices has a HUGE impact on our overall lives, our stress levels, our mood, and the quality of our lives, both now and in the future. We dare not just give in to the moment and react to one another without thinking, because we will certainly reap the negative effects of these choices for years to come. I can tell you this from personal experience.

You have probably heard the phrase, “In the end, all we really have is each other”. This – outside of God of course – is a true statement, and one that bears committing to our hearts. One that should spur us on to care for the relationships around us as a critical investment in our future.

In the next several blogs, I want to help us to begin to effectively relieve stress in our lives, and actively invest in one another; strengthening relationships, and building peace and hope – things we really need as we face these difficult times together.

For now . . . weigh what you have just read. And with God’s help, join me on this journey.

-Pastor Ron