Life is hard
Life has always been hard. And then we got a pandemic which made life even harder. This pandemic has not only affected our physical health, but our mental health as well.
Young Adult’s Mental Health Declining
Research shows specifically that young adult’s mental health has been negatively impacted by Covid 19. Their feelings of loneliness increased from January to April/May which in turn created higher amounts of depression (from 22.5% to 25.2%). Females experienced higher amounts of loneliness compared to males throughout the pandemic. In addition to that, those who had more social interactions pre Covid were mentally impacted more than those who had less social interaction. Finally, young adults worried about the pandemic’s social impacts experienced more loneliness throughout Covid 19. The solution to this problem is for young adults to find new coping methods (Lee et al).
God is the answer
There is hope in Jesus Christ! Studies have shown that Christians among other religious people have coped better through Covid 19 (Thomas and Barbato). Young adults can get through this pandemic with God’s help. God does not promise a perfect life, but He does promise us joy, hope, peace, love, and salvation when we put our faith in Him. He provides us practical ways to help our minds and souls. Young adults can read the Bible, pray, lament, practice gratitude, worship God through music, be in church (even if it is online) and have communion with other Christians (even if it is socially distanced). It does not mean we will not struggle with mental health, but we have hope regardless of our circumstances.
“We can cry out to God amid the pain and “disorientation” and also maintain a sense of hope and gratitude that a “new orientation” is just around the corner. After all, God is active and present to offer His providential care from moment to moment. To practice this approach—offering a “complaint” and then a “praise” to God (Brueggemann, 1984)—meditating on the Psalms can help Christians to gain much-needed insight into the problem of, and solution to, human suffering on this side of heaven”
Joshua Knabb
We can find a Psalm that has both praise and lament. It can be greatly beneficial to find Scripture we can relate to (Knabb). The author of Psalms (David) sets the example of how to handle trials. We can learn from David how to handle this pandemic. The important lesson from David is to cry out to God but still trust and praise His name. Psalm 77 is an example of a passage that has both lament and praise. Meditate on this passage and you will start to reap the benefits.
Psalm 77
I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
“Turning to God, bringing your complaint, asking boldly, and choosing to trust. Once you find examples of each element, consider writing your own lament. “
Mark Vroegop
My Testimony
I suffered through an accident at a young age. This accident affected my physical and mental health. It has not been easy, but I was able to cope with help from God, family, friends, and my doctors. However, the pandemic took a toll on me for the worst. I was not able to see my doctors, which caused my mental and physical health to struggle. I had difficult moments where my anxiety, depression and pain felt overwhelming. In those dark moments, I turned to God. I cried out to Him and praised Him through my struggles. My mental health is not perfect, but God improves it tremendously. Knowing He is with me is the best feeling in the world. I will forever lean on Him in the good and bad times.
Favourite Verse
One of my favourite passages in the Bible is Psalm 131:1-3. This passage has helped me through many difficult moments. The author of this passage provides a beautiful simile of a child being weaned by its mother. This simile symbolizes God and His children. Just like a child is content being weaned by its mother: I want to be content in my Father’s arms. The passage reminds me that I can always be content with God. It also reminds me not to worry about things I have no control over. There is a lot going on in the world, but God has it in His control. My contentment is not based on my circumstances. My contentment is based on the rock of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 131:1-3
“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.”
Testimony of Youtuber
This is a helpful video of a young adult girl who experienced struggles with her mental health. She shares how God helped her mental health improve. Kirby provides practical advice that other young adults can use to cope through this pandemic with God’s help.
Dr Caroline Leaf’s Insight
Here is a video of a video of Dr Caroline Leaf talking about how to improve mental health through Christianity. She is a a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist. She provides helpful tips that young adults can use to cope through Covid 19.
Turn to Christ
Turn to Christ and allow Him to help you with your struggles. You do not need to do this life alone. Trust Jesus, cry out to Him, pray, worship, read your Bible, be in church (in person or online) connect with other believers (in person or online). You will begin to feel a peace and hope that is unshakable. Young adults can find a huge improvement with their mental health in Christianity even during Covid 19. There is always hope in God!
References
kirbyisaboss. (2019b, October 27). to the Christian battling depression, anxiety, and mental health [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVDXv7DYyIY
Knabb, J. (2021, March 18). Moving From Stress to Gratitude in the Covid-19 Era by Meditating on the Psalms. AACC. https://www.aacc.net/2021/01/06/moving-from-stress-to-gratitude/
Lee, C. M., Cadigan, J. M., & Rhew, I. C. (2020). Increases in Loneliness Among Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Association With Increases in Mental Health Problems. Journal of Adolescent Health, 67(5), 714–717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.08.009
Sermons archive. (2017, August 1). Caroline Leaf — Worship in the Brain [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmaCLVuYwmI
The Bible: English Standard Version Bible. (2016). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/
Thomas, J., & Barbato, M. (2020). Positive Religious Coping and Mental Health among Christians and Muslims in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Religions, 11(10), 498. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11100498
Vroegop, M. (2021, April 3). Dare to Hope in God: How to Lament Well. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/dare-to-hope-in-god
megsmessyworld 