Are you staying close to your phone, close to the news, close to home today? Are you trying to make decisions about spring break travel or helping your kids who are facing changes in classes and housing because of the COVID-19 virus?

Most of us are trying to figure out how much worry is appropriate, and how to make immediate, short term, and long term decisions.

I’m encouraging you to remember use old skills we seldom see these days.

They are common sense, problem solving, and living in the middle.

The Middle

Even before the COVID-19 scare, I have been talking with people across various spectrums about living in the middle. Being balanced in thoughts, choices, and opinions. I’m sharing a few tips to bring our thoughts to the middle not only for COVID-19, but in multiple areas (faith, politics, behavior, thoughts, etc).

4 Tips

Avoid extreme words, like ALL, EVERYONE, NO ONE, NEVER, ALWAYS. Because these words are rarely the case.

Take what’s relevant from both sides for a balanced perspective. For COVID-19, take the relevant information from both panic and “you’re over-reacting.”

Is the virus contagious? Yes, so take precautions.

Will you likely die from it if you get it? No, but if you’re one of the vulnerable populations groups, you need to take extra precautions.

Is it something to be concerned about? Yes, just like every other contagious disease. Take precautions, but try to live life as normal as possible.

My life is interrupted! Yes, it is. You’re disappointed. Use your problem solving skills. Be flexible, creative, and wise.

Now, do the same for politics, behavior, and other areas of life.

Be a calm presence for those around you. This includes family members, peers, and those with whom you have influence. Does it help to rant about things on Facebook? Probably not. Does it help to check on an elderly neighbor? Probably so.

Pray and trust God. Friends, we are all dying. So rather than panic over what may or may not happen, put the pandemic in perspective. Could any of us have a major traumatic experience any day of our life? Yes, but it doesn’t prevent us from being wise and living life.

God says,

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4.

Saturate yourself in God’s word for His perspective on all of this. He is the author and perfecter of our life and faith.

We need wisdom

Friends, our world needs wisdom. We need wise people who are not fatalistic or avoidant. We need people in the middle. As we walk through this crisis together, will take on the role of a wise person in the middle, with a balanced perspective people need to hear?

I believe this is a role God is calling believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ to take. Remember Paul and the disciples in the first century? They lived in adverse conditions. As American Christians, we have been living in luxury and privilege.

We have forgotten we have the Creator of the universe taking care of us. We can expect suffering and hardship, but we have the hope and promise of walking through it with the extraordinary grace of the Holy Spirit living inside of us.

Let’s not forget Romans 8:35-39:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (BibleGateway.com)

This week’s FREE resources.

I’m sharing on raising girls and eating disorders at For the Family. That article is here: I Had an Eating Disorder: 6 Principles I Used to Break the Cycle With My Daughter. 

Valuing Motherhood Podcast Series: Part 2. Motherhood is under attack! Find out how to gain God’s perspective about motherhood. Listen here!

Fledge the audio book is coming! You can get Chapter One FREE! Get the free download on Mom Grief here. 

We’re talking about exhaustion for moms, grandma’s and those raising kids in the Fledge Parent Forum. Join the FREE group for resources and support raising and supporting families! We are a community! We have weekly live prayer for the members on Friday!

Now, how can I pray for you?