“The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?”

While we are trying to take care of ourselves and each other through the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to look for ways to protect not only our physical health but also emotional health.  When all of this started in February, I’d not have been able to predict the amount of change we would experience and are still experiencing.  While in context of all the issues we have, this might seem trite, at this time of the year, I typically am getting excited for the coming weekends of college football.  Each year, I go into that first game for my Purdue Boilermakers with the highest of expectations.  And of course, those expectations are dashed with losing games, but it is still something to look forward to each year.  But, not this year.  I’ve been thinking a lot about the responses to these areas of life that have been snatched from us, at least for now.  For some, the changes we are enduring are just glancing blows, but for others, it can feel like they are being crushed down.  So, maybe our best response to stay emotionally strong is to be very intentional in listening to and watching out for others so that where we are not feeling crushed we can help those who are.  And, over time, the same may happen to us, in that we someone will be there to pick us up.

While our Lord is the true healer and bringer of peace of mind and strength, it is through us that He will show up  today.   While the hits keep on coming, our response and how we focus on others can be the uplifting that so many need.

Reference: Proverbs 18:14 (New Living Translation)