We are all trying to find different ways to survive our current situation: picking up new skills, nervous baking, or binge-watching Tiger king and another season of the office. I have a friend that would like to fall into option three however with a 16-month-old Tiger King might not be the most appropriate. Instead they landed on Sesame Street as a compromise with Mom since it is at least a little educational. He was watching it the other day when I gave him a call—I’ll give him the benefit of believing that his kid was in the room, but it was also around naptime so I can’t be sure.
As he related the episode to me, something stuck with me. Abby Cadabby said, “we are probably feeling some big feelings right now. And that’s okay!” It’s not often that you’re floored by a 4-year-old, fairy in training, pink Muppet. As we close out the month of April in quarantine, we can all be feel some really big feelings that run the gamut of emotion: fear, anxiety, sadness, empathy, annoyance, compassion fatigue, and this list can go on and on. No matter where you fall, from the highest heights of joy to the dark depths of depression, whatever big feelings you have right now God wants you to share them.
Psalm 34:15-18 says,
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Tragedy reveals a lot about us and the people around us. The problem is that most tragedies are localized. When someone faces the death of a loved one, they can be lost in grief but it’s okay because the community can come around them and pick up the slack. The community can give them the love and support they need. This dynamic goes out the window when there is a global pandemic that literally affects everyone.
This is why it so important to reach out to your community right now. Your good day might be happening at the same time as someone else’s bad one and hearing a little of your positivity might turn that around. If you’re feeling down reach out, there are people that would love nothing more than to lend a listening ear.
I know someone who has wrestled with anxiety and depression most of their life, and they said the quarantine hasn’t hit them as hard as others because feeling lonely or isolated is just Tuesday. For others this might be the first time dealing with these emotions. You might be a feeling some big feelings right now and that’s okay! It’s okay because you are loved no matter what. God loves you more than anyone has ever been loved before.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.