Finding Emotional Health Amidst Life's Challenges

 

Summary

In this session, we explored the dual pandemics affecting our world: the physical pandemic of COVID-19 and the emotional and spiritual pandemic caused by the disruptions in our lives. While scientists work tirelessly to find a cure for the disease, we must also address the emotional dis-ease that has emerged. This series, "Faith That Works When Life Doesn't," aims to provide practical biblical steps to manage the stress-induced negative emotions we face.

The Book of James serves as our guide, offering wisdom for navigating crises. We've previously discussed dealing with fear, anxiety, indecision, loss, grief, and self-defeating coping mechanisms. Today, we focus on a faith that leads to emotional health, presenting ten principles, or "COVID commandments," to help maintain emotional well-being during these challenging times.

Firstly, it's crucial to show grace to ourselves and others, treating everyone with the same grace God extends to us. This involves being kind and forgiving, recognizing that everyone is under stress. Secondly, we should start and end each day by refueling our souls with God's Word, ensuring our spiritual and emotional reserves are replenished. Thirdly, setting and sticking to a routine provides stability and reduces stress, especially when everything else is unpredictable.

Fourthly, we must limit our news consumption, as constant exposure to negative news can deplete our emotional reserves. Instead, focus on what is uplifting and positive. Lastly, scheduling daily connections with loved ones is vital. Whether through technology or traditional means like letter writing, maintaining these connections refuels our emotional and spiritual cups.

These principles are not just practical steps but are deeply rooted in the grace and love of God. Experiencing God's grace enables us to extend it to ourselves and others, fostering emotional health and resilience during this pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

- Show Grace to Yourself and Others: Embrace the grace God offers by being kind and forgiving to yourself and others. Recognize that everyone is experiencing stress and needs compassion. This grace is a reflection of God's love and mercy, which we are called to extend to those around us. [08:15]

- Start and End Each Day with God's Word: Begin and conclude each day by immersing yourself in Scripture. This practice refuels your soul, providing the spiritual nourishment needed to face daily challenges. God's Word offers wisdom and strength, sustaining you through difficult times. [12:04]

- Set and Stick with a Routine: Establishing a daily routine brings predictability and stability, reducing stress. A structured day helps maintain emotional resilience, especially when external circumstances are chaotic. Routine fosters a sense of normalcy and control. [17:52]

- Limit News Consumption: Monitor your media intake to protect your mental and emotional health. Constant exposure to negative news can increase stress and anxiety. Instead, focus on positive and uplifting content that nourishes your spirit. [21:06]

- Connect Daily with Loved Ones: Schedule regular interactions with family and friends to maintain emotional connections. These interactions, even if brief, provide encouragement and support, replenishing your emotional reserves. Meaningful connections are vital for emotional well-being. [26:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Dual Pandemics
- [00:38] - Emotional Dis-ease and Stress
- [01:28] - Faith That Works When Life Doesn't
- [03:20] - A Faith for Emotional Health
- [03:39] - The 10 COVID Commandments
- [05:00] - Different Boats in the Same Storm
- [06:14] - Spiritual and Emotional Reserves
- [07:07] - Romans 12:11-12: Don't Burn Out
- [08:15] - Commandment 1: Show Grace
- [12:04] - Commandment 2: Refuel Your Soul
- [17:52] - Commandment 3: Set a Routine
- [21:06] - Commandment 4: Limit News
- [26:17] - Commandment 5: Connect with Loved Ones
- [32:33] - Invitation to Care Callers and Writers
- [34:39] - Experience God's Grace

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. James 4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
2. Romans 12:11-12 - "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
3. Psalm 23:3 - "He restores my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake."

---

Observation Questions:

1. According to James 4:6, what is the relationship between humility and receiving God's grace? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on showing grace to oneself and others? [08:15]

2. In Romans 12:11-12, what are the three actions Paul encourages believers to maintain during difficult times? How do these actions support emotional health as discussed in the sermon? [07:07]

3. How does Psalm 23:3 describe the role of God in restoring our souls, and how does this connect to the sermon’s advice on starting and ending each day with God's Word? [12:04]

4. What practical steps from the sermon align with the idea of God restoring our souls, as mentioned in Psalm 23:3? [13:27]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How might showing grace to oneself and others, as discussed in the sermon, reflect the humility mentioned in James 4:6? Why is this important during times of stress? [08:15]

2. Romans 12:11-12 talks about being "joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." How can these attitudes help someone maintain emotional health during a crisis? [07:07]

3. The sermon suggests limiting news consumption to protect emotional health. How does this advice relate to the biblical principle of focusing on what is uplifting, as seen in Matthew 6:22-23? [21:06]

4. In what ways does the sermon’s recommendation to connect daily with loved ones align with the biblical call to encourage and build each other up, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:11? [26:17]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you were hard on yourself or others. How can you apply the principle of showing grace, as discussed in the sermon, to similar situations in the future? [08:15]

2. Consider your current daily routine. What changes can you make to ensure you start and end each day with God's Word, as suggested in the sermon? How might this impact your emotional health? [12:04]

3. Identify one source of negative news or media that you frequently consume. What steps can you take this week to limit your exposure and focus on more positive content? [21:06]

4. Think of a loved one you haven't connected with recently. How can you schedule a meaningful interaction with them this week, and what impact do you hope it will have on both of you? [26:17]

5. Reflect on your current level of stress. What practical steps from the sermon can you implement to build emotional resilience, such as setting a routine or practicing a virtual commute? [17:52]

6. How can you incorporate the practice of "God's Word, first word, and last word" into your daily life? What specific book of the Bible will you start with, and why? [14:35]

7. Consider volunteering as a Care Caller or Care Writer. How might this act of service help you and others experience God's grace during this challenging time? [31:27]

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Grace in Stressful Times
In times of stress, it is essential to show grace to ourselves and others, reflecting the grace God extends to us. This involves being kind and forgiving, recognizing that everyone is under pressure and in need of compassion. By embracing grace, we can foster a supportive environment that helps alleviate the emotional burdens we carry. This principle is deeply rooted in the love and mercy of God, which we are called to extend to those around us. [08:15]

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone who has been difficult to deal with recently. How can you extend grace to them today, reflecting God's love and mercy?


Day 2: Nourish Your Soul with Scripture
Starting and ending each day with God's Word is crucial for spiritual and emotional health. Immersing yourself in Scripture provides the nourishment needed to face daily challenges, offering wisdom and strength. This practice helps refuel your soul, ensuring that your spiritual and emotional reserves are replenished, allowing you to navigate life's difficulties with resilience. [12:04]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: What specific time can you set aside today to immerse yourself in Scripture, and how can this practice become a daily habit?


Day 3: Establish Stability Through Routine
Setting and sticking to a routine provides stability and reduces stress, especially when external circumstances are unpredictable. A structured day fosters a sense of normalcy and control, helping maintain emotional resilience. By establishing a routine, you create a predictable environment that supports emotional well-being and helps manage the chaos of life. [17:52]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your daily life that lacks routine. How can you create a simple, consistent practice in this area to bring more stability?


Day 4: Protect Your Mind by Limiting News
In a world filled with constant news updates, it's important to monitor your media intake to protect your mental and emotional health. Overexposure to negative news can increase stress and anxiety, so focusing on positive and uplifting content is vital. By limiting news consumption, you can preserve your emotional reserves and maintain a healthier mindset. [21:06]

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to limit your news consumption and focus on uplifting content?


Day 5: Strengthen Bonds Through Daily Connections
Maintaining daily connections with loved ones is vital for emotional well-being. Whether through technology or traditional means like letter writing, these interactions provide encouragement and support, replenishing your emotional reserves. By prioritizing meaningful connections, you can foster a sense of community and support that is essential during challenging times. [26:17]

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can reach out to today to offer encouragement and support? How can you make this a regular practice?

Quotes

Show grace to myself and others. I need to show grace to myself and to others. To make it through this crisis, you need to treat yourself, and you need to treat other people, the way God treats you. How does God treat you? Graciously. With grace. With mercy. With forgiveness. God always gives us what we need, not what we deserve. If I got what I deserved, I wouldn't even be here. He gives us what we need. That's called grace. [00:08:17]

God loves to give us more grace. He opposes the prideful, but He gives grace to the humble. God loves to give grace. He opposes the prideful, but He gives grace to the humble. Why does God oppose the prideful and the arrogant? 'Cause they think they can do it all by themselves. They don't think they need God, they don't think they need God's grace, they don't think they need His mercy or forgiveness. [00:08:57]

Start and end each day refueling my soul. You need to start and end every day, during this pandemic, refueling, recharging, renewing, refilling your soul. Now, what's your soul? Your soul is your mind, it's your will, your ability to make choices, and it's your emotions, the way you think, the way you feel, and the way you choose. [00:11:48]

So how do you refuel your soul? By getting into God's Word every day. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God." You recharge, this is soul food. The more you get in this book, the more you're gonna recharge, refill, refuel your soul. James talks about this. James chapter one verse 21, he says, "Humbly accept God's word planted in your heart. It is able to save your souls." [00:12:41]

Set and stick with a routine. Okay, set and stick with a routine. Now, if you're out of work and you've been asked to shelter at home, you probably haven't had a routine for a while. Because it wasn't get up, get to work, take the kids to school, whatever. Predictability is an important stress reducer. Do you hear that? Especially when everything is constantly changing. [00:17:53]

Routine develops resilience. Routine develops resilience. Predictability creates stability. Structure creates steadiness. This is especially important for kids, but it's important for everybody. You need to set and stick with a routine for the duration of this pandemic. Now, a crisis, which we're going through right now, should include what Dr. Bruce Perry calls dosing and spacing. [00:19:23]

Stop watching so much news. Stop watching so much news. 'Cause it's all negative right now. And for your own mental, and emotional, and spiritual health, you need to monitor your media intake. I know it's easy to get glued to the internet, glued to social media, get glued to the TV, 24-hour news channels. But if you fill your mind with constant images of negative news, and they're just saying the same thing over and over, it's going to deplete your reserves, it's gonna raise your stress level. [00:21:06]

What I see is what I become. What I see is what I become. And if you become a news junkie during this pandemic, you're adding stress to your life. You're not reducing stress watching the news, you're adding stress. You've heard me say before, if you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at Christ, you'll be at rest. [00:22:42]

Schedule a daily connection with the people I love. You need to schedule a daily connection with the people you love. You need to stay connected to your community. You know, all of our campuses at Saddleback, we're doing it Together Tuesday, where we get together just to see each other. It's not a Bible study, it's a time to just fellowship. Because you need to schedule time to be connected to the people you love during this pandemic. [00:26:17]

I refill my cup by connecting with the people I love. That's just a flat out fact. I refill my emotional, my spiritual cup, by reconnecting with the people that I love. Now, how should you do this? Well, the best way, of course, is technology that allows you to see them. So if you use Zoom, or you use Skype, or you use FaceTime, where you can actually see their faces, that's best 'cause so much of our connection is body language. [00:26:55]

Did you know that when Paul, the apostle Paul, 2,000 years ago, was quarantined, and when he was isolated in a Roman prison, and he was literally chained to a Roman guard 24 hours a day, that means no privacy, how would you like to be chained to a Roman guard 24 hours a day and in prison, zero privacy? Do you know how Paul used his time of isolation? He wrote encouraging letters to his friends. And the result, we got this, the New Testament. [00:28:10]

Speak encouraging words to each other. That's what you wanna do when you connect with people. Speak encouraging, not discourage, encouraging words to each other. Build up hope. That's what you wanna do. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, with no one left out. Using phones, using letters, using cards, using social media, using the internet, using Zoom, he says, "Okay, you'll all be together in this with nobody left out and no one left behind." [00:29:02]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 03, 2020. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?