20 March 2020

10 Tips to Help You Remain Calm and Kind through the Coronavirus Pandemic


1.  Talk to God

God knows more about the coronavirus and the true state of the world than any human does.  He also knows you and loves you more than anyone else.  Talk to Him about your concerns, and ask Him to help you sift through the murky cloud of voices.  Let Him comfort, encourage, and guide you.  Ask Him for His protection and provision, and listen to Him when you sense that He is asking you to do (or not do) something.  Spend time with Him and allow His voice to ring out clear over all the others.  Come to Him in gratitude, worship, and humility, and allow Him to lift your eyes and your countenance.  Agree with Him about the ways you’ve screwed up, and align your thoughts with His Word.  Sit with Him until your heart is fully convinced that He is enough.  “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry” (Psalm 34:15).  “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b).  “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

2.  Practice Gratitude

Gratitude reminds us of what God has already done and how He has already provided.  It gives us confidence to keep relying on Him as we walk through turbulent waters.  Coupled with tip number 1, it quiets our worries and guards our hearts and minds with a supernatural peace that only Christ can give as we stay near to Him (Philippians 4:6-7).  The Bible also tells us expressly that giving thanks in all circumstances is God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  One easy and practical way to do this is to start a gratitude journal and write even just a few short sentences or phrases about what you are thankful for that day. 

3.  Trust God’s Provision

God provides for the needs of those who seek after His kingdom.  Look at Jesus’s lesson in Luke 12:22-34.  His provision may not look how we expect it to, but our needs will be met nonetheless as we follow and obey Him.  Psalm 23 is another beautiful depiction of God’s provision.  We can trust Him.  If we choose to believe that and act on it, then our fear will melt away, our selfishness will dissolve, and we will be more effective in serving others through the storm. 

4.  Don’t Act in Fear

When we are scared for our own safety and well-being, the natural selfishness of our sinful hearts bubbles up to the surface much more quickly and easily than usual.  In this high-alert and defensive stance, we can find ourselves speaking rashly, acting erratically, and burning all sorts of bridges along the way.  Or, we may go to the other end of the spectrum and mentally and emotionally implode as we allow the anxiety and the darkness of our fears to overshadow everything.  Either way, we can end up causing more damage than the original object of our fear.  Instead, find ways to manage your fear and stress.  Practice deep breathing through your nose when you catch your mind running wild.  Get plenty of sleep, water, and real food.  Take extra care to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19 NLT).  For heaven’s sake, don’t make any big decisions while you are in this state if you can help it.  And above all, practice tip numbers 1, 2 and 3. 

5.  Extend Mercy & Grace

We all succumb to fear occasionally during times like this.  Remember that fact, and be willing to extend mercy and grace to those who hurt you.  Our anger and pain can blind us from seeing situations with compassion through another’s perspective.  Don’t excuse or ignore sinful behavior, but muster the courage to communicate through the conflict with a healthy amount of understanding and gentleness.  Pursue reconciliation, and remember that you also need others to show you grace and mercy when you fail.  See Colossians 3:12-14.

6.  Balance your Intake

With the bombardment of instant information from countless resources, we need to be careful to limit our exposure to the negative and disturbing things happening in the world.  This is not to say that we should be uninformed, but that we should be intentional about avoiding an overdose of the madness.  Don’t lose sight of what is true or miss the joys of living in the present.  Replace some time reading links on Facebook with reading God’s Word or listening to worship music.  Watch a feel-good movie that you know lifts your spirits.  Check out Philippians 4:8 for some general guidelines about where we should allow our minds to camp out. 

7.  Check on Friends

I am an introvert through and through with a textbook melancholic temperament.   For those who are like me, the chance to stay home with limited outside interaction is a welcome break from the normal pace of life.  However, not all of us are wired the same way.  The extroverts out there, especially those who like to process their thoughts outwardly in conversation, are likely struggling with the whole idea of social distancing.  Even beyond temperaments, some of your friends are facing really difficult business decisions, anticipating financial loss from a lack of work, or buckling under the weight of having a worldwide pandemic added to personal trials they were already battling.  Shoot them a text or give them a call.  Let them know they aren’t alone or forgotten.  Ask them how they are feeling about everything.  Listen well.  If you haven’t already, you will eventually need that kind of care too, even if you are an introvert.  “Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 NLT)

8.  Offer and Accept Help

Toilet paper is suddenly a high commodity, and groceries are flying off the shelves like it’s the end of the world.  Let people know how you can help.  Give what you can while knowing that God will provide for your needs.  When He tugs on your heart to give even to the point of sacrifice, trust Him.  He is a generous gift giver, and He sees and blesses when you reflect His character.  Give knowing that you may soon be the one in need, and don’t be too proud to accept help.  Allow others to bless you as they obey what God is calling them to do.  “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).  We are stronger together; God made us that way. 

9.  Refuse to Belittle or Mock

People from all walks of life have widely differing opinions on the severity of the coronavirus and the necessity of all the preventive measures that have been recommended.  No matter where a person falls on the scale, the right thing to do is never to belittle or mock them.  That sort of self-righteous attitude is not productive and only causes greater division and confusion.  Proverbs has a lot to say about scoffers (3:34; 14:6; 21:24; 22:10; 24:9 to name a few).  Strive to communicate your opinion in a humble and considerate manner (which doesn’t mean it can’t be clear, firm, and bold as well), and refuse to resort to nastiness toward those who disagree with you. 

10.  Be Wise

I don’t want to harp on this one too much because it’s covered pretty well in the news and social media right now.  Listen to your healthcare professionals.  Stop stealing the masks and the hand sanitizer.  Wash your hands, stay home if you feel sick, avoid going out in public when possible, and practice good health in general.  I know some people think this is all way too overblown; even so, we know it is not nothing.  Be cautious, but not cowardly.  “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.  The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences” (Proverbs 22:3).  Also, if you need wisdom for making decisions through this whole process, read James 1:5-8. 






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