How to Grow in Unusual or Strange Days

“Unusual days.”

We’ve had to say it too many times.

We’ve had to say it over too long of a time. 

And for most reasonable people these circumstances have almost been too much. It’s overwhelming enough even before we consider how to grow (or even “Can I grow in this?”).

Our circumstances can lead us to being negative, spiritually atrophied, weary, tired, even discouraged. One of the central ideas in this blog’s theme of a “Nothing Wasted Life” is that we want to live our lives well (not to waste it). 

But as importantly is the idea that God does not waste anything in our lives. Even these days that have words like “social distancing”, “quarantine”, “safer-at-home”, and “masks”. 

In these COVID-19 days, there are some “goods” that can come into our lives. This isn’t a hip “goods”, like “Bring the goods”. This is the idea that there is good and bad. And there are the “goods” in our lives even when times may be bad.

But the “goods” will likely not be the usual measurements of success, joy, or productivity. It may rattle loose the usual qualities we look to in a good holiday, gathering of friends, a work project, or a ministry effort. 

But there is still something to catch or appreciate.

Two Ways for How to Grow in Seeing the Good

We see or observe life in particular ways. This comes from ways that experience has affected or even transformed us. Our family-of-origin, what we read/watch/listen, personal experiences, traumas, and friends’ views are just a few that shape the lens we see through. 

In fact, that is how we can miss the “good” in these days: our perspective is set to see the “good” in specific or particular ways.

But in these times our usual metrics are not able to serve us well. And God often measures things differently — we just don’t always realize it. So this can be a good time for us all to seek to view things in fresh ways —  perhaps the way God may see. If we can have “eyes to see” it may reveal new things. 

In these days, this has been something I have had to press myself. It is so easy after years of rhythms, patterns, and relatively unchanging times to see in a particular way. And our brains are designed to be efficient. If they can store something in the habits/automatic responses, it will. (This works well for us too but that would be a topic for a different day.)

But there is a spiritual reality and work that is revealing itself even in the hard days. Paul captures this in the pragmatic advice of Philippians 4:8 which we’ll explore a bit.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

1. It is intentionally and prayerfully turning our attention to the good. It is a calling to practice looking for the gifts in life. It may take effort or training but we can do it.  
2. But it is not just “positive thinking”. It is grounded in one’s theology — what one believes about God. And, especially in these days, it is important we remember that God is good, gives gifts, and does not change even when everything around us seems to be (James 1:17).

My Experience in Seeing the Good

It’s easy to say this but it can be hard to practice. So let me be real with you. To encourage you and get you started, here are some things I have seen arising out of this time for me. Perhaps it will help you see your life anew and catch the good.

• This post as a whole expresses how my thinking has been renewed or changed over these times, which is one of the biggest “goods” in this time. And this has mainly been because I have had to listen and think in new ways. So the rest of these come from God’s work in that.
• Prayer is richer and deeper. In times of greater absence of physically hanging out with outside-my-family friends and slowing down in general, my connecting with God has been renewed. 
• In these prayer times there can be a lack of words in how to turn to God. I have been renewed in my appreciation for written prayers and praying them as my own. Written out prayers, especially historical ones, have a richness and church-history-tested expression that offer me focus and words when I am weary. And this has also widened my appreciation for the “cloud of witnesses” in geography as well as time (Hebrews 12:1-3).
• The gift of overlapping with my family in more daily, little touches. 
• Difficult emotions are sometimes best not solved, but recognized. And realizing they will (or can) get better.
• Awareness of my own rhythms of discouragement (or even grumpiness) has helped me grow. For example, a latter part of a night may become more pessimistic. Even just realizing this reminds me that I do not need to give into this or even let it bother me. The light of a new day means I can let it be and trust God in it. 
• More possessions, more work. Less possessions, less work. It’s been a time of casting some things “overboard” and changing the way I relate to some things.
• While mourning the lack of our kids’ activities, there has been pleasure in not taxiing a lot — and the opportunity of being together as a family that came as a result. 
• There is a “too many webinars” point. Okay, that one is a little tongue-in-cheek but the accumulation of information and inspiration have limits to their usefulness. Don’t say “yes” to everything.

So there are a few things I am taking away as learnings of this time. There has been a grace to have some “eyes to see” in a time that has been anything but light or easy. (Thank You God.)

Your Experience in Seeing the Good

So let’s practice. 

What is one thing you can take away from this time of life or even just in today?

If you’d like to, we’d love to hear about it. 

May you “see” the small “good gifts” that the Giver of good gifts puts in your day.

Photo by Paul Gilmore from StockSnap