How To Stay Calm In Crisis

How To Stay Calm During Crisis

10 min read by Chris Rea

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Staying Calm. Easy to talk about. MUCH harder to do in the face of crisis.

Emotions like fear, stress, worry, anger, and frustration tend to clamor for the driver’s seat when times seem uncertain.

When life gets rocked and our circumstances change from the normal we’re used to, how do we stay calm and keep moving forward?

I want to look at a passage of scripture…

Exodus 14:5-14

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea.

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to stay calm.”

You know how the story ends. God parts the sea, the Israelites make it through, and the Egyptians are swallowed up. Yay God. The Israelites were finally free after being enslaved for 430 years.

But why did the Israelites get so fearful when they saw the Egyptians coming? Didn’t they trust God? I’m sure they did, to a point. But it’s so easy to say we trust God until life starts spinning out of control, isn’t it?

When our circumstances change and life seems unknown, and our futures don’t look bright, fear, stress, worry, anger, and frustration can create panic and chaos.

And if you and I are going to stay calm during crisis, we need to do 2 things.

1. Stay in the Present

Fear and anger will cause us to worry and even panic. Each of those emotions of worry, fear, stress, and panic can even lead to physical symptoms like an accelerated heartbeat, inability to sleep, high blood pressure and more.

It’s our brain’s response to our situation and it is trying to protect us from danger. Once this occurs, we start thinking about the future and playing out “what if” scenarios in our mind. As a result, we tend to go to the “worst-case scenario.” Next, most of us will start playing the 2nd guessing and “if only” game.

ie…If only, I would have ______, I would have________.

But, all this does, is create a pattern of toxicity in our brains and minds making us feel small and leading to emotional and physical pain and uncertainty.

If we’ll look at the Israelites, here’s what we know:

God delivered them from Egypt. They saw the Lord move and set them free. They saw miracle after miracle, and they even had God Himself leading them in a cloud by day and fire by night!

But at the first sign of uncertainty, when they heard the Egyptian’s horses behind them in the distance, check out their response.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

Yet, in verse 8, 2 verses earlier, the Word says the Israelites were marching boldly. They were staying in the present, celebrating, and praising God.

What changed?

Their circumstance felt uncertain, fear took over and immediately they got out of the present moment and started going to the worst-case scenario. Kind of feels like EXACTLY what’s happening with this coronavirus. People went from peaceful everyday living to bum-rushing grocery stores and buying all of the toilet paper in the country. What changed?

The virus started to spread, then news that schools and public gatherings were shutting down. Then sports events shut down. Churches couldn’t hold public gatherings. Circumstances created enough fear for us to jump out of the present and create “what if” scenarios.

It’s good to be prepared. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be prepared. The problem is, fear is a powerful motivator, but a terrible leader. And right now, most people are allowing fear to lead them. This is why it is crucial to stay in the present. We don’t know what tomorrow looks like. (Truthfully, we never do, we’re just aware of it right now.)

Things are changing so fast. All we have is today. And from this pivotal place, we really decide if we trust God and believe His promises are true, or we don’t.

After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, they realized they were hungry. So, of course, they asked Moses if he led them into the desert to die of starvation. I mean, obvious conclusion?! So, once again, God shows himself faithful and provides Manah every. single. day. Interestingly, God told them to just take enough for today, but because people are selfish and fear the unknown, they gathered more than they needed and, spoiler alert, it spoiled. Through this small request of obedience, God was trying to free His people to stay in the present and know they could depend on Him.

Currently, our country is being asked to stay home and “shelter in place.”

Our governors have made it clear that grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open. But still, out of fear, people are gathering enough food for months instead of what they need for a few days. The empty shelves then cause the “what if” I don’t have enough scenarios, leading us right back to fear and panic.

Staying in the present allows us to tell ourselves the truth. And the truth is today, I have enough food. Today, life is ok. Squirrels are running around, birds are chirping, kids are still playing outside. 6 feet away from each other, but still. Today, I am fine.

When you find yourself lost in your head, just bring yourself back to the present. Right now. Right now, friend, you are ok.

2. Reconceptualize Your Thinking

Or as the Bible puts it, “renew your mind.”

Romans 12 says, “Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by renewing your mind.”

Jesus, Himself, said to us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Even though peace is available, at times we forget, don’t we? We’re human beings, and sometimes our emotions get the better of us.

I hate to break it to you, but while living in this world, you’re going to have negative thoughts. You’re going to be fearful at times. And, know what? That’s ok. Perfect people don’t need a Savior.

Sometimes though, we get so mad at ourselves for being afraid, “I should be better than this. I shouldn’t feel this way.”

And that only makes matters worse.

When fear creates negative thinking, worry, stress or panic, we need to recognize it, but then know we can reconceptualize it.

Here’s what I mean:

This fearful thought enters your mind:

“The Corona Virus is a pandemic. I’m scared and feel like everything in my life is changing right now. What if I get it, what if I can’t find food, what if I can’t pay my bills, what if people start getting violent? What if this crashes the economy and the market?”

That’s real. But here’s what it would look like to reconceptualize it.

“This is an opportunity for God to be glorified. I can help others during this season of life. This could be the very thing that unites our country. We will get through this. We are not going to go hungry. Passion for God and dependence on God will be birthed from this. I am going to choose to be a conduit of peace and not panic.”

Recently, I saw the following quote circulating on the socials. It’s reconceptualizing in it’s highest form.

Satan: “I will cause anxiety, fear, and panic. I will shut down businesses, schools, places of worship, and sports events. I will cause economic turmoil.

Jesus: “ I will bring together neighbors, restore the family unit, I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table. I will help people slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not the world. I will teach my children to trust me and not their money and material resources.

Jesus takes what the enemy meant for evil and turns it for good. As believers, in Christ, we have that same ability to stop believing the lies of the enemy and tell ourselves the truth.

When we do that, we renew our mind.

Is it possible to change the negative narrative and actually believe God will bring something positive from this?

Without a doubt friend. But, it won’t happen all by itself. So when you’re tempted to get negative and give in to the fear, here are a few practical ways to reconceptualize your thinking.

When you worry go to worship and the word
When you feel panic go to prayer
When you’re tempted to be selfish go to service

I used to think that fear was the opposite of faith. I don’t anymore.

I believe that fear is the opposite of peace. When you are afraid, you lack peace, and when you have peace you are not afraid. And Faith and trust? Think of them as the vehicles which drive you from fear back to peace.

You can choose faith right now. Faith that God will protect you and His promises are more true than anything else you could choose to believe.

Take your eyes off yourself for just a moment. Reconceptualize your thinking. When our thought life changes, and we put spiritual truth in our brains our feelings begin to follow suit.

There are great opportunities in this season. Opportunities, to be a light in the darkness, and agent of hope and peace in the chaos.

The fear and the panic don’t have to make you live small. You can rise above this. We can rise above this. Let’s choose to Stay Calm, just for today. Ane then, tomorrow, we’ll wake up and make the same set of choices once again.

Until next time,

Chris

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