Imposed quarantines from time to time, news about the rise and fall of COVID-19 cases here and there, plus health and safety reminders everywhere. Can you believe that the world has been battling this pandemic for a year and a half now?
How are you holding up?
If these unsettling scenarios stress and fill you with anxiety, know that God wants you to be free from all worries (Psalm 34:4).
God gives you the power to break free from stress!
Here are 5 essential tips to help you cope with your pandemic stress, from inspirational speaker and Beyond Small Talk guest, Carl Pascua.
Tip #1: Slow down and rest
Did you find yourself feeling extra stressed when the pandemic started? You are not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the pandemic.
Perhaps, uncertainty becomes the gasoline that fuels your stress fire.
Don’t worry. You don’t need to force yourself to be okay all the time. Carl suggests that you process your emotions. Take time to figure out where the sadness or stress comes from and take a much-needed rest.
Tip #2: Exercise and stay healthy
Science has long proven that your mind and body are strongly linked.
“Remember, a healthy body can result into a healthy mind and a good emotional condition,” Carl reminds.
The American Psychological Association support’s Carl’s assertion and states that as your mental health declines, your physical health can worsen, and if your physical health declines, you can feel mentally “down.”
So, get off the couch and start a simple exercise routine. Also, be extra mindful of what you eat!
Tip #3: Talk about your problems
Whether it’s with a family member, a trusted friend, or a mentor, sharing your thoughts and concerns with other people can help relieve stress.
Likewise, you can help others feel that they’re not alone, too!
Like you, each person you know could be fighting a battle you don’t know about. So don’t hesitate to reach out. Encourage each other and build each other up! (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT)
Tip #4: Let go of the idea about control
Who would’ve thought that by 2020, going to malls, restaurants – or even work – could be a health risk? Who would’ve thought that by the summer of 2021, you would still be cooped up in your home and praying for a pandemic to end?
No one.
But it happened. This goes to show that no matter what your plans are, you cannot control everything. Ease your pandemic stress by letting go of your need to control things, and trusting in Someone greater who is always in control – Jesus Christ.
As Proverbs 19:21 ESV puts it, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Tip #5: Put your faith in Him
If anything, the pandemic proved the famous saying, “Everything changes, except the word change.”
If you put your happiness and trust in things that change – like your career, health, or even relationships – you might feel stressed when things don’t work out the way you had hoped they would. It’s high time to put your joy and faith in a God who never changes.
“Other people may not understand everything that is going on in your life, but God knows. That means you can go to Him, cry to Him, and you can seek help from Him. Problems can be big, but our God is bigger, our God is stronger!” Carl concluded.
No matter what you’re going through, keep going! You can always find comfort and overcome through the help of your merciful God!
“In the multitudes of anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul.” (Psalm 94:19 NKJV)
Do you feel overwhelmed or stressed?
We are here for you. Call the CBN Asia Prayer Center at 8-737-0-700 and we will pray for you.
Mark your calendars and catch the next webisode of Beyond Small Talk this Saturday, September 25, 2021, at 7:00 PM, on The 700 Club Asia Facebook page and YouTube channel!
