To Everything There is a Season, and a time…
Rev. Dr. Melinda Contreras-Byrd on psychospiritual health in the Time of Coronavirus
Image: Chris Lawton
In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read these words, a statement of fact about life:
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven…”
The truth of this scriptural text is that life comes in seasons, times when we find ourselves in new and different situations. It is ordained to be that way. Once we realize that change is a fact of life, we can be rest assured that, despite the fear brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, things are going along in some divine order. The upside is that when situations seem bad, dark or painful—they will not always be that way.
Ecclesiastes echoes this sentiment with encouraging promise about life’s ups and downs: “weeping may endure for a night—but joy comes in the morning”.
It is time to declare that God reigns over every situation.
In this time of the coronavirus, the most important thing for Christians to embrace are the answers to this question:
What time is it?
First, it is important to talk correctly to ourselves. The main enemies to our psychospiritual health during this time are: fear and loneliness.
One fear is that we are in uncharted territory and no one is in control. But if we just sit in stillness and quietness for a moment, our faith will tell us that this is not true. More importantly, believing this untruth can lead us to panic.
The prophet Jeremiah quotes God as saying, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?”
Take a moment to remind yourself that the current pandemic is only one of the many seasons of life, and, like every season, it will change. Take a moment to review the scriptures that assure you that God is always in control: Isaiah 41:10; I Cor. 10:13; Joshua 1:9; Matt 6:34; Jere. 29:11; Psalm 46:1; Prov 22:28; Phil. 4:6-7; Luke 12:22-26; Jeremiah 32:27.
When you are alone, God is present. Let God’s gift of music surround you and uplift your spirit. Sing the songs that will remind you of the truth of God’s omnipotence. Go online, and send these songs to other Christians you know: I Thess. 5:11; Eph 5:19. Encourage one another, as the Bible says,”in prayers and spiritual songs”.
What time is it? It is time to use the weapon of song to lift our spirit and keep us going in the right spiritual and psychological direction.
Second, we fear for our safety and wellbeing. Dark voices in the background whisper that no one cares about us, that we are alone and will suffer, because we will find ourselves without any way to meet our basic needs. Once again, this is incorrect thinking—the kind that leads to depression, anxiety and panic.
The truth is that, whether we live alone or are a distance from our blood relatives, people of faith are never alone. Not only did God promise to never leave us alone but, knowing that humans were created to need each other, God created the church. If we have yielded our lives to the Lord, the church becomes our family.
Church members: this is a time to utilize your Class Leader system. Begin creating phone trees, so that each member receives a call every week or every other week, depending on whether they are ill, seniors or live alone.
Church members: this is a time to reach out with emails, e-card, paper cards, calls, and other ways of showing love and care to make up for the lack of physical touch that members will experience during this time of advised distancing.
Rev. Mishca Smith advises that this is also a time for pastors to call upon members to create a community-resource listing that will assist in helping others who might be in need of food, clothing, medicine, etc.
What time is it? It is time to really show ourselves to be a family—the body of Christ responsible for feeding Jesus’ sheep. (John 21:17)
Lastly, this pandemic can be seen as a time of terror and plague. But it can also be used as a time to draw closer to God and to do some soul searching and caretaking of our own.
If your job has been suspended, get some rest. Work on a project that you have been wanting to do.
If you have struggled with anxiety, stress, or burn out, pamper yourself with bubble baths and scented candles.
Limit yourself to only a half hour of news each day, and skip over the many articles about the coronavirus.
Your bishops, connectional church leaders, and pastors are working diligently to keep you informed with podcasts and emails.
Learn to love your own company, and look forward to time alone with God.
Read up on the spiritual disciplines, such as fasting, Christian meditation, praying the Psalms, Lectio Divina, etc.
What time is it? It’s time to be still so that you can learn a deeper meaning to who God is.
For, as Isaiah 30:15 teaches, “In quietness and trust shall be your strength.”
He tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to God’s purpose. If you are reading this, it is very likely that you are who this verse is talking to. The promise is that, somehow and in some way, God is working all that you experience in such a way that something good can be gotten from it!
What time is it? It’s time to be still, trust God, show love to yourself and your church family. It’s time to trust God, be still, and know….
