Feel the Feels

Last Thursday, after the word came that my job is no more (for now), I lazed on the couch in my pj’s, remote in hand, and watched the news. Melancholy took over. It was a blue day for America and our family. A day of loss. As my kids called in with their reports of school and sports shutdowns, job losses, no graduations, etc., fear knocked on the door to join the disappointment. A full cocktail of emotions.

Yes, I know that we are fortunate. We are healthy and my husband is still employed, and I get to hang with my kids, a lot. We have a roof overhead and a safe place to lay our heads. But the gloom and surrealness of Thursday took its toll and I let myself feel the feels.

I imagine you are feeling them too and that is okay.

Yesterday, a friend confided that she is experiencing persistent panic attacks. She’s not alone. The bad news is relentless with daily death counts and stats of the sick. People are frightened in mass; we see this illuminated by the hoarding of toilet paper. Fear is the ruling force in our culture.

And there’s the time thing- It seems there was never enough and now I have plenty. It’s odd how it shifted so significantly in one day. As I move into this new normal, I want to make the most of this “gift” of quarantine.

Although I am still bummed (and letting myself be so), I sense a shift in my soul as I push past the malaise and grab my Savior’s hand. In almost every trial of my adult life, I’ve turned to Him (although sometimes stiff-necked), and that ain’t going to change now. God is the stability of my life. When I open the Bible, wisdom springs up via the Lord’s counsel and with courage-laced words. Therefore, I must soak up God’s truths as I entrust this weird period in our world and my own life to Jesus and ask Him to infuse my heart with help. With courage.

And with compassion toward those who hurt. Those who are afraid. Even the toilet paper-hoarders.

I want to make the most of my time by being a praying friend. If you are feeling the feels, too, I want to be here for you. Even when the gloom and unease slide back in or when I’m hiding from my family in my closet, I can pray.

So, friend, please let me pray for you in this season of instability. You can leave your request in the comments or send me a private message.

We will get through this. We will. Let’s give ourselves and one another permission to feel the feels and then hold on tight to Jesus, the stability of our times.

May God bless and keep you; may He fill you with courage and peace.