Going Through the Process of Sheltering In Place
You can read Parts I and II of this series here:
Pastor Patti held her first Immanuel Practicum Zoom video meeting recently. One thing that was discussed was how being put in a situation like sheltering in place can stir up our triggers. Some of these may be familiar triggers. Some may feel like completely new feelings that we were never aware of. Pastor Patti talked about how God is like a refiner of silver (Malachai 3:3 and Psalm 66:10). The refiner heats the silver so that the dross rises to the surface. He can then skim off this unwanted waste. He goes through this process over and over until the silver is 100% pure. Likewise, when we are in a refining situation like sheltering in place, our ‘dross’ rises.
What an amazing opportunity to get those places of pain healed! Isn’t it a grace of God that He would allow those wounds to come forward so that He can heal them so that we don’t have to feel that way anymore?
Don’t allow an opportunity to experience new levels of freedom to slip by. Get with an Immanuel Practicum Coach and get to Jesus. Let Him into those hurting kid places. Then feel the freedom and shelter in place well!
A few other thoughts that I have been pondering as we get through this process:
- Learn to wait well – At a time like this, as hard as it is to do it, it is so critical to keep your relational circuits on as best you can. Philippians 4:8-9 give us the biblical foundation for this. Think on things that are true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and good and worthy of praise and the God of peace will be with you. We know that God is always with us. This verse doesn’t make this conditional. No, what we find is that when we focus on things that are positive, our relational circuits fire up and we are more able to connect with Him relationally!
- Stay connected with Jesus – Connect with Him. Talk to Him about how you are feeling. Let Him respond. Let Him attune to you. He can do it like no one else!
- Stay connected with others – Social distancing is really hard. We all need relational face to face connection. If sheltering in place doesn’t allow for this right now, find a way to still connect. Our Zoom meeting was a great example. My sister organized a Zoom “cocktail hour” meeting for my family. That was fun!
- REST! This could be God’s way of slowing you down. Take advantage of it.
- Treat yourself! – Eat something that tastes good. Do something that brings you joy. Watch a movie that makes you laugh. You get the idea.
- If you have the capacity, tackle a project that you have been putting off – It feels satisfying!
- I’ve been learning to develop grace for myself through this. There have been times that I haven’t had the capacity to DO anything…Find Jesus in that moment. Experience His grace. Watch Him model His perfect grace. I bet you will begin to develop a greater grace for yourself (and others).
Well…I’ll leave you with this. I am praying that the Lord would bless you and keep you. That you would feel the light of His face upon you, experience His grace, see His countenance lift up to respond to you, and that you would feel the presence of the God of peace Himself!