As of now, the world has been in pandemic-mode for at least 5 months.  And just when Covid-19 was becoming history, in many places, cases have surged again.  With all that comes the continued, or renewed, restrictions—what we can’t do, who we can’t see in person, where we can’t go—because of this seemingly never-ending virus-threat.

We’re in a bind.  And when we’re feeling bound— hemmed in, cordoned off, pent up, and kept down—it’s SO HARD TO BE KIND!

There’s just too much LOSS and PRESSURE to feel like being kind.  Loss of freedom, finances, livelihood, opportunities, perhaps even loved ones, does not put us in a naturally good, generous, patient, or benevolent mood. 

Add to that, other people feeling the same loss and frustration, causing them to be unkind to us—until we’re all adding to each other’s trouble—and contributing to each other’s reciprocal lack of kindness!

No one likes this.  No one wants this.  Is there a way out of this vicious cycle caused by pandemic pressure?

Yes! As long as God is still sovereign and still good, we have ways to be kind in the bind. He is. He never changes (Heb. 13:8, James 1:17).  So what are some ways to go against our feelings and respond in kindness instead of in a bad mood?

1. Remember we’re not each other’s enemies.  Sometimes it may feel like it, especially when someone else is in our face, or in our space.  People are handling this crisis differently, with different viewpoints and different ways of coping.  This is just a more-intense reflection of how we all handle, view, and cope with life in general. 

But disagreement doesn’t have to be destructive.  Among believers and between believers and non-believers there’s all kinds of controversy that the real Enemy is using to divide and conquer us all.  Opinions can differ, but they don’t have to divide us—if we operate on this principle—

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another… make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”  Rom. 14:13, 19 

The context here concerned what kind of food was ok or not ok to eat.  But it could easily apply to masks, meetings, merriment and avoiding mayhem over it all.

2. Reframe our disappointments into appointments—  Yes, we’ve all suffered disappointments due to this pandemic. We’ve had stuff we’d hoped to do and places we’d planned to go to that are on hold until who-knows-when.  It’s frustrating and discouraging!  But—we can either focus on that, or focus on what we CAN do. 

~Who can we help—and how, when, and where? 

~Who can we encourage— by phone, messages, video-chat, maybe even in person? 

~What new skill can we learn? 

~How can we develop our relationship with the Lord?

~How can we develop our relationship with at least one other person—including and especially those we live with?

Last week, instead of sitting around bored, I arranged to meet a neighbor who another friend told me lives near us.  We met, safely—each of us glad to meet a new friend.  This changed my attitude, making it easier to treat others kindly.  You can experience the same change.

3. Let gratitude replace grouchiness—We already know what’s wrong—and if we don’t, someone will certainly tell us!  But thinking about it doesn’t help us emotionally, physically, or relationally. 

Thankfulness, on the other hand, generates kindness– as we focus on the Lord’s blessings vs. what we lack, we’re more willing to give and help others. (Ps. 92:1-2)

4. Hold on, with hope— Despair (discouragement’s big brother) turns our focus inward and makes us shrink into ourselves.  We can’t see any purpose for being kind or helpful to others when we’re ready to give up on everything. 

But Rom.5:3-5 gives us a key to staying kind— “…perseverance” à “proven character”—maturity that includes the fruits of the Spirit, such as kindness.  Even if we have no other apparent reason, our own character development and the Lord’s love “poured out in our hearts” becomes “hope that won’t disappoint”, which then enables us to persevere, which leads to… that virtuous cycle.

These are just 4 effective ways to stay kind in a bind.  Can you think of any others?  Which of these will you put into practice?