In a Funk

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26, NLT).

That’s where I find myself with my writing these days—in a funk. I’m not sure why or what it is that’s gotten me stuck in the difficult space of trying to find words to express myself while, seemingly, coming up empty more often than not. As I sit here in the quiet, still of the morning, sipping my coffee as the sun rises, my heart is confident that I’ve been called to write and share the words the Lord gives me. But lately, as the words have struggled to flow freely and I’ve felt myself staring at a blinking cursor more often than not, I realize that I’ve been presented with an opportunity to reflect. Let’s do that together today.

Are you in a funk? Maybe you’re in the healthcare field, and you’re so completely worn out from the “new normal” of wearing a mask all day and worrying about whether you’ll bring the virus home to your family. You might be a teacher who is experiencing an overwhelming push-pull phenomenon as you try to make sense in your head and heart of whether or not it’s safe to return to in-person instruction, while simultaneously realizing the potential detriment to our children if they continue to try and grow up and learn in this disconnected season of life we’re all living. You might be a parent just trying to survive the juggling act of working from home while simultaneously making sure your children are well cared for as they are adjusting to a totally new normal as well. Or maybe you’re a parent or grandparent whose greatest joy is found in moments spent with your children and grandchildren, but here you are, unable to travel and feel safe to connect with the ones you hold most dear in your heart. And, if you’re like me, you’re struggling with the divide all this has caused in our nation and our world as the physical distancing of COVID has led to emotional distancing as well.

I’ve had conversation after conversation with close friends about all the decisions we are faced with each day. There are far more questions than we have answers. In a world where we have access to an immense amount of new information every single day, I have found it increasingly difficult to know what to do, when, and how. This is coming from me, a single adult, ultimately responsible only for myself and the choices I make on a day to day basis. I can’t imagine what it’s like for new moms, single parents, CEOs of large companies, government leaders, and others who are faced with making decisions that have a far-reaching impact. It’s impossible to know for sure if we’re doing the right thing. At this point, it feels like so many of us are daily operating with a dangerously low tank. We’re looking at the gauge and wondering how we’re going to get to our destination or even just make the next decision. And I’m not talking about major life decisions, but rather the mundane choices of whether we should visit our family or what to have for dinner. We’re in a difficult season where it feels as though so many of the choices we make carry such heavy weight. In the world of psychology, they call it decision fatigue.

I think this decision fatigue is getting the best of us. Many of us are exhausted as we search for stability and certainty while we’re living in a world marked by chaos and confusion. Instead of turning to something of this world to find our answers, I believe the Lord is asking us to fix our eyes on His word and cling to our faith. I know it’s hard, but friends, when we don’t have the answers, what we can do is take our fatigued, fearful, confused, anxious, and overwhelmed hearts to a God who sees, knows, and cares. I don’t know how we get ourselves out of this mess. Some days it seems impossible, but then I am comforted by the words found in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 19, verse 6: Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” I don’t know, but I know the One who does.

I chose the New Living Translation of that verse because of its use of the word intent. I am challenging each of you today. Let’s work to be more intentional. Now, more than ever, we need to pause and look around. Look at our kids, our parents, our neighbors, our leaders. It doesn’t matter how much we think we know; none of us have all the answers. And if there’s one thing I pray for daily, it’s that all of us can learn to extend just a little bit more grace to each other during this unexpectedly difficult time in our country’s history. At the end of the day, I really believe that we’re all just doing the best we can.

When I woke up this morning, I had no plans to write. But as I was bustling around the kitchen, preparing my coffee, the Lord began to stir in my heart, and the words began to come. So, as I’ve learned through many instances of failure to respond when He does this, I chose obedience and settled into my spot to share these words with you. As I close today, I want to leave you with a powerful reminder that many of us would do well to cling to during these difficult days.

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine gave me a gift. It’s the bracelet you see depicted in the photo above with the acronym H.W.L.F. Many have asked, and I tell them it’s the answer to the question, “What would Jesus do?” I don’t have the answers, but I know the One who does. When I’m struggling to wrestle myself out of a funk or survive another day in the current chaos, I can look down at my wrist and be reminded of what Jesus would do. He would love first.