fbpx

“Hard Times” by Melissa Mitchell

by | May 5, 2020

I’m not going to pretend.  I am overwhelmed.  These past several weeks have been hard and the next few months look tough.  

It started with two weeks of quarantine for half of my family.  As the only person who could go to stores I felt a lot of anxiety in the beginning about securing food.  Mostly because my son who has autism is accustomed to certain foods at specific times of the week.  I lay in bed nights worrying about his response if what he expected to be there wasn’t.  

Next, and continually enduring, is adjusting to distance schooling.  My husband is a teacher so he is working a lot of hours continually revamping what he has usually done into a new format.  My son pretty much refuses to do any schoolwork at all.  He cannot articulate what he is thinking but it appears school work belongs at school, not at home.  On this, he will not budge.  My daughter has had a very difficult time adjusting to distance learning.  It has been very hard.

I’m overwhelmed by the volume of emails from my son’s school and from the amount of Zoom meetings for both my children.  Please, no more passwords or user IDs.  I just can’t.  I worry about too much screen time and all sorts of other things.

On top of the concerns of my immediate family, I worry about my parents who are in their 80s and for safety reasons I cannot see them.  My dad already has lung problems and obviously needs to be very careful.  I feel bad I can’t see them.

It seems my role for my family is one of encourager.  However, I am weary, I am overwhelmed.  I sense the anxiety and stress in my home and it is difficult to know what to do.  One thing that makes all of this hard is we don’t know when it will end.  

I have much to be grateful for – good health, a safe home, loving family, and steady income.  I know this, but I still feel tired.  

In times of uncertainty it is good to look at what is certain.  I don’t know when this will end but I know who does.  God is not only there waiting at the end, He is with me now during the journey.  During the waiting.  

His promises are just as true in times of want as in times of plenty.  I know He sees my tiredness and He cares.  I am not alone.  These are some of my favorite verses, I may have shared them here before.  What I love about these verses is that no matter how difficult things are – God is still God.  He is in control and we can find joy in Him.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,  I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Recent Posts.

Through the Ages

Through the Ages

As Christians, it is not unusual for some of our beliefs to be challenged or even attacked by the world. While it may feel this is a contemporary issue, thousands of Christians have been defending their faith for two millennia. Their stories can give us comfort and...

read more
Planted and Raised

Planted and Raised

“When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have.” I...

read more
Caring for a Hurting Friend

Caring for a Hurting Friend

There’s a special sort of awkwardness that comes from not knowing how to be there for a friend in need. Whether the need is brought about by the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or by other circumstances like illness, surgery, or other personal reasons,...

read more