Three steps to responding well in a crisis
Like most people, I have lived through my share of crises, both personal and on a broader scale. And if I’m being honest, I haven’t always handled them well. (Practice doesn’t make perfect in this case.) Thankfully, if we are willing to be intentional, there are a few steps we can take to handle crises more like Christ.
1. Don’t become frantic or withdraw.
All of us have our preferred methods of coping when the stress of life seems overwhelming. They usually fall into one of two categories.
The first is to look outward, losing ourselves in frantic activity to provide a distraction from uncomfortable emotions and gain a sense of control over our circumstances. We determine that if we must shelter in place, we’ll have the most efficient schedule, the cleanest house and the best-educated kids while doing it. Keeping up with the latest news becomes an obsession. Busyness is a way of life while our brains keep churning faster and faster, creating an ever-present feeling of low-level anxiety that we work hard to cover up.
The second is to look inward, withdrawing from life in order to dwell with our worries and fears. We feed and nurture them until they grow, then we make half-hearted attempts to silence them through Netflix marathons, social media scrolling, comfort foods and other forms of self-medication. Our passivity breeds fatalism and a crushing feeling of defeat.
Fortunately, there’s a third direction we can look – upward.
2. Turn your focus to God.
The Apostle Paul is an example of this radically different perspective. In the midst of intense physical persecution that was causing him to literally waste away, Paul found hope that grew stronger each day. How? By reminding himself that our earthly troubles are fleeting, but our God is all-powerful and our future is secure. Paul describes his attitude like this:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)
In the same way, after listing example after example of faithful believers who finished well, the author of Hebrews counsels us:
“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Heb. 12:1b-2a)
The phrase “fixing our eyes” comes from the Greek word aphorao. According to the New Testament Greek Lexicon, this is a compound word formed from two words that mean “separate” and “see.” Put together, aphorao means “to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something.”
Nowhere are these instructions more fitting than during times of crisis. We must intentionally turn our attention away from our circumstances and our fears – and choose to focus on God.
3. Honor the Lord in your circumstances.
When I was in my early 20s, I received some advice that radically altered my perspective on life: Pleasing God is less about what you are doing, and more about whether you are doing it for God’s glory.
I may never have power or prestige or recognition. I may never be successful in the eyes of the world – or even the Christian community. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, I can wake up every morning and honor the Lord with my attitudes, my words and my actions as I go about my daily life.
No one likes to have their life turned upside-down, but this worn-out piece of wisdom is true: You can’t control your circumstances, but you can control your response. So whether you are homeschooling, working remotely, serving on the front lines as an essential employee, or deal with layoffs or reduced hours, why not choose to praise God and point others to Him?
Turn off the news, shut down your social media feed, and spend extra time reading the Bible and praying specifically. Surrender your worries to God. Choose to be thankful instead of complaining about temporary inconveniences. Extend some extra grace to your family while you’re all cooped up together. Reach out to people, especially those who are most isolated. Brainstorm ways to connect with your neighbors and community to demonstrate the love of Jesus.
Examine how you’re spending your days, and make a commitment to use your time to encourage people in Christ, build relationships and advance God’s Kingdom.
Kimber Huff is the communications coordinator at the Baptist Convention of New England.