We feel very comfortable whenever we know what’s next. We generally like a bit of order, and security is felt when we have an idea of the ins and outs of our environment - both in our private and professional life. As nice as all this sounds and as much as we desire it: we don’t always get it. This has become especially clear during these past months of global disruption. You wake up one day and nothing is like we were used to. And the hope of everything returning to normal after a couple of weeks has long faded and been replaced with the vague idea that things might be different for quite some time.
But what if this disruption is more than just some changed rules of societal behavior? What if, at our core, we are deeply affected by the ramifications of the current global development. What if we are grieving the loss of what we considered normal, safe & predictable? Our lives have been greatly disrupted - what now?
Dan B. Allender
“The work of restoration cannot begin until a problem is fully faced.”
I love this quote from Dan B. Allender. While it is inspiring, it is as equally challenging. It is saying that we actually can’t find a way to process what is currently happening in our lives if we don’t acknowledge that anything has changed at all. It is in the recognizing of the fact that our lives are not what they were anymore, that we can begin a valuable work.
Inner Homework
That is why you and I should take some time and get busy thinking, processing & grieving. It’s time that we do our inner homework. Discovering how we are actually doing as individuals can be so very helpful in knowing what we need so that we can cope with challenges and, in this case, disruptions of “normal”. A few helpful ideas:
Ask yourself how you are. I mean, how you are really doing. It can be helpful to write down and verbalize the emotions you are feeling when you think about these past months. Maybe it is helpful to express yourself with a drawing, a song or a poem.
Ask others how they have experienced this past season. Realizing that you are not the only one who is going crazy can be so freeing. Sharing your experiences, fears and uncertainties with someone you trust can lighten the weight.
Ask God what His thoughts are regarding the disruption you have experienced. I have learnt over the years that He is very secure in who He is. There is no question we can’t ask Him. Let Him speak to you and into your situation.
These three practices can be key elements while doing your inner homework. It’s like taking inventory. It is seeing what is going on, what makes you tick. It is getting to know yourself better and getting familiarized with your inner self. We are often tempted to pull the “I am fine” card. I think many times that is because we don’t actually know how we are doing deep inside. Doing our inner homework & knowing how we are causes a new self-awareness within us. This will not only give us the ability to articulate to others how we are doing, but it also reveals where we might need help from friends, families or even professionals. But ultimately, I believe, it should remind us of the need for a Savior. Whenever we try to carry our burdens, we will eventually be crushed underneath the weight of them. But Jesus, ready and willing to take the weight off ourselves, is extending His love, understanding and compassion.