17 Mar Coronavirus Stress: Hide in a Secret Place
Coronavirus stress! Where can we go to hide?
My husband and I were late, rushing to catch a train in Florence, Italy. A hectic crowd pressed in all around us in the busy station, to the point that I thought I might get hurt. John was carving a way through the dense onslaught as I clung to his hand, my mind lagging behind to an argument earlier in the day with a friend. So this was my “dream-of-a-lifetime holiday” in Italy, suffocating in stress.
I cried out a silent “Help!” to God.
Out of nowhere, an ancient song filled my mind:
“There’s within my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low: ‘ Fear not, I am with you, peace, be still, through all of life’s ebb and flow.’ Jesus, Jesus, Jesus —sweetest name I know , Fills my every longing —keeps me singing as I go.”
It felt like God was calming me, telling me everything was okay. Gradually, my body and soul relaxed into this peaceful reality, a gentle river carrying me along as we found our train and boarded it.
Coronavirus: Find the Secret Place
There’s a secret place in your soul where Jesus wants to meet you:
You hide them in the secret place of your presence from the conspiracies of man; you keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20
How do we find this secret place, then stay there in the turmoil and grind of life? Especially now, when news and fears of the coronavirus fill our minds at every turn?
God has provided a peaceful place for every person to enter, but like the wardrobe passageway to Narnia, it’s hidden, unknown, waiting to be discovered by those who are diligent to find it.
My journey to find this place, then access it again and again, involved an uncertain, twisting path. Along the way, I learned some practical methods that are truly helpful in finding this restful oasis that is God‘s presence.
Steps Toward the Secret Place
The first step of the journey is to start developing the habit of engaging with God consistently, learning of him through the Bible. This is a step that many aren’t willing to take, for a variety of reasons.
As people are learning of God in this way, many still find it difficult to truly experience God’s presence in their souls. For me, this can be because my five senses, or my busy brain, or circumstances, have captivated my attention and focus, with a lingering effect even if I’m in a quiet room with nothing going on.
Our physical bodies are interwoven with our souls. As I’ve learned to calm my physical body and bring my mind serenely into the present moment, it’s as though the dust and distraction melt away. It’s then that I can experience the awareness that God is right there with me, as he always is. I can experience him when my body, spirit, and mind are calmed, and I have filled myself with the knowledge of him as he has revealed himself in his book, the Bible.
Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. Psalm 131:2
I love the writer’s image of a mother holding her child who is no longer breast-feeding. Before a baby is weaned, he’s anxious and wiggly around his mother because he wants to be fed. Once weaned, the baby can rest calmly and quietly in his mother’s arms, content. This is how God wants our souls to be within us, instead of “anxious and wiggly.”
So how do we come into a restful place internally in order to be more aware of God’s presence, of his “still small voice?” 1 Kings 19:12 ASV
Rest Your Body and Mind
It’s difficult to rest to your mind and spirit when your body is tense. Tight bodies lead to tighter minds. Peaceful bodies lead to peaceful minds. It’s hard for emotions to stay tense when muscles are relaxed. When you purposefully relax your body, your emotions will follow, and your soul will be more composed and quieted. Psalm 131:2
There are some helpful, simple practices I’ve learned to achieve these things. When done regularly, these exercises re-train your body and mind to exist in a calmer state, clearing away the clamor that drowns out God’s presence. One of these exercises is below, and I’ll share others in coming days. To receive these, be sure to subscribe to this blog.
Practice the Presence of God
Come into the secret place, where “times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:20
- Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes.
- Take a deep breath in, through your nose. Then exhale through your pursed lips, letting your breath go out slowly and peacefully. As your breath goes out, allow your body to relax with it, like a deflating balloon. Repeat this peacefully 2 times.
- Think of some things that are concerning you now, worries and burdens. Think of yourself holding these in your hands or arms. Actually stretch out your hands or arms and imagine holding them there.
- Now think of Jesus standing in front of you with his arms stretched out toward you, saying “Will you give those burdens to me so I can carry them instead of you?”
- Now think about if you’re willing to do this. If you are, envision yourself placing these burdens in Jesus’ hands, so that he takes the full weight of them. Ask God to be working on these concerns with all of his resources. Then rest your empty hands in your lap, and feel the weight completely gone from your hands and arms. Allow your hands and arms to completely relax as best they can.
- Repeat step 2: “Take a deep breath in, through your nose. Then exhale through your pursed lips, letting your breath go out slowly and peacefully. As your breath goes out, allow your body to relax with it, like a deflating balloon. Repeat this peacefully 2-times.”
- Abide in God’s love (John 15:9): Think about the fact that God is right there with you, loving you completely, unconditionally. Imagine His love as a comfortable warmth surrounding you, embracing you, holding you. Rest in this awareness for a while.
- When you’re ready, go about your day.
For more practical stress-relieving activities, check out my Yikes! article.
How Was It?
How did this exercise go for you? Let me know in the comments below.