Jan 25th, 2021: "We Shall Walk and Not Faint"

 Isaiah 40:31 - KJV - Bible verse of the day - DailyVerses.net

I have come across more studies about the impact of isolation among teens due to the pandemic. Many teens have started to communicate how they are affected by the lack of sports activities, school clubs, and other social interactions. Some don't talk about their feelings because they don't know how. "Disconnected", "Hopeless", "Unmotivated" are some of the descriptions we have heard from teens.


Being relational is one of the truths about us created in the image of God. God is a relational being. We use words like "Love", "Compassion", "Forgiveness", "Kind", "Being There" and more to describe the nature of God. We want to experience that in our relationships with others as well. That is why it hard not to be with other people in person. We want to feel love, a sense of belonging, enjoyment, and companionship with others. It is a God-given gift that we are yearning for these feelings.


I have friends to whom I have not been able to hug, and I miss that. There is always something missing after a Zoom meeting with a friend. For many months before my father passed away, that was the only form of communication we had with him. It was not the same as being with him. Here are some suggestions of how we cope with being isolated from people we love:


Remember that they are God's gifts in our lives. Pray for them and give thanks for who they are. When we talk to them, talk about what we have in common and tell them how you miss them. It doesn't matter how many times we repeat ourselves because we love to hear their voice, and they want to remember ours when we are not together.


Make time for ourselves to write about what we have learned from these folks so that we can keep that part of our relationships alive in our minds. Sometimes it is hard to know what we are thinking and what we are missing until we put things down on paper. It is also a meaningful way to sense God's presence.


Pray for them by using Scripture if you happen to believe in God. It is a healthy process to bring them and God together. Sometimes we see things quite differently when that happens. The appreciation for the depth of our friendship can go a lot deeper.  


Having said all this, I am still looking forward to the day when we can sit and have a chat with our loved ones and friends. Be patient and be kind to your teenage kids at this time.


Philippians 4: 13

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Isaiah 40: 31

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

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