10 Recommendations for Pandemic Fatigue
Of course, it’s not just pandemic fatigue. It’s an election, riots, injustices fatigue, added on to the isolation, constant change, uncertainty, and other disruptions fatigue brought on by the pandemic.
None of the following recommendations are going to fix your fatigue, anger, frustration, hopelessness, or fear you might be experiencing, but they may renew or rekindle the connections that do—connecting with God and his people.
Warning: If you’re simply hurting too much to take a pastoral kick in the pants, stop reading now. Seriously, this post may not be for you. A conversation and prayer for you right now would be so much better, and I’d be happy to do that with you.
Pray daily and deeply. Need some motivation or help? If you haven’t already, watch the prayer course we used for our small groups in the prayer series. It’s outstanding! Or watch the prayer habit coaching videos from the series. Or try the Lectio 365 app which will guide you in daily prayer for about 12 minutes. It’s soothing and challenging at the same time.
Don’t miss a week of corporate worship (whether online or in-person). Seriously, not…..one….week! There is no reason to, and one week becomes two and two becomes three and then you find yourself where you are right now. I was at a grad party on Sunday when one of our members shared she had “fallen off the wagon” with regards to watching the service online. I get it. And I know this is true for many. Get back on the wagon. Corporate worship is vitally important for our souls, and we (your church) want to minister to you and equip you in your relationship with God and others.
Get a better, more encouraging and biblically-centered news source. I’m sorry, but CNN, Fox, and other media outlets will constantly make you angry and depressed. They are designed for that because anger sells. That’s verifiable. There, I said it! I’m not saying you shouldn’t watch them, but some of us are so steeped in the worldviews of those media outlets that even God can’t encourage us with his kingdom hope. Many of us have found that focusing on or adding the daily, half-hour podcast news from World News Group (“The World and Everything In It”) is so refreshing. It’s not perfect, of course, and political bias’ creep in, but they are at least trying to provide a more biblical, hopeful view with God’s kingdom reality and purposes in mind.
Help someone in the name of Christ. Maybe you found yourself more outwardly focused when the pandemic began, and you called that elderly person in your life every day or reached out to encourage or help a neighbor. Have you let that go? Is it time to re-focus off yourself and onto others?
Lament. Bring your complaints to God. Things are changing every day, and we miss the way things were. Lament that you can’t experience fellowship like you use to, that church services are different, that our country is in turmoil in the streets, that problems and injustices in our society seem unsolvable. Lament your lament before God. And ask him to renew your spirit and embrace change and uncertainty as an opportunity for his gospel to go out and hearts to lean more into him. Don’t stop until God works in your heart and the pain begins to subside. Insist on it in prayer!
Bring fun back into your life. For some, this should be at the top of the list. I took a walk with a friend recently and he noted, “It’s so good to get out of the house.” I felt like shaking him and saying, “Then get out more, you….” [Calm down, Henry.] Remember the blog post on things I don't understand in the pandemic? Add this to my list: People who are refreshed by fresh air and physical activity who holed up in their homes during the pandemic eating badly and watching Netflix or working constantly. Please, if that’s you, get out if it’s raining (new rain gear breathes and keeps you dry). It’s silly to let rain stop you. Get outside if it’s super hot. Unless you have a condition, it won’t kill you. I hate humidity, but I’ve surprised myself by sitting in our porch on hot days with a fan and enjoying it. Go figure. Get outside when it gets cold again. Every day. Come on, man!
Be careful with social media. Of course, you should participate in my forty days through the Bible on Facebook, haha, but seriously, be very careful not to be sucked into its vortex. One of the things I loved about social media in the early pandemic days is that there weren’t all these posts that made me feel like I was missing out on all the fun. Everybody was missing out! (Yes, misery loves company!) And no one was an expert on the pandemic and masks and opening schools like they are now, given their advanced degrees in epidemiology, psychology, sociology, maskology, and theology. Yes, that’s a bit friendly sarcasm. Be careful.
Remember the King. Politics are important, and political involvement is a great calling, but Jesus is king. Jesus is king. Jesus is king. You might be thinking Biden or Trump spells disaster. Or you may think both do, and that therefore there is no hope. Those are not a godly thoughts. Those are satanic thoughts. There, I said it again. Like one of my favorite pastors from many years ago would say, “It smells like smoke and comes from the pit of hell.” Play out in your mind the simple logic of knowing, believing, grasping, and loving the fact that Jesus is king.
Be a peacemaker and uniter. Are you seeking to listen to and love those with whom you deeply disagree? Our world is so, so, so divisive now. Not you. Don’t let it be you. What good are you doing fighting and hating and spewing and withdrawing into a cocoon, if that’s you? None. No good. Build bridges. Win hearts. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) There will be hate and division, but let it not be on you. Listen better. Ask questions. Share humbly with others. I love this prayer from yesterday’s Lectio 365 (I’ve added a prayer card to pray it daily): “Father God, Open my eyes, stir my heart, and teach me ‘to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with’ you today.” (Micah 6:8)
Ask for help. If you read this in spite of my warning, and it discouraged you or it made you angry or you thought, “I just don’t have the energy to…,” please ask for help from others in prayer, in conversation, in counsel or counseling, in practical everyday stuff. Please ask for help. You are loved. And there are people in your life who care.
Photo by Bruno Aguirre on Unsplash