Do you wish all the craziness in the world would stop, even for a day or two? While we do not have control over what happens even locally, we do know Who is in control, and we can also focus on what we can control. Here is some encouragement for you if you feel as though the world is out of control:
1. When the world is in chaos, limit your exposure to the news, especially if watching/reading the news causes you anxiety.
Yes, terrible events are happening, yet dwelling on them won’t help you one bit. Know how much news you can handle and refrain from consuming more of it than that. Also, consume it later in the day, after you have accomplished some important tasks. Limiting your news intake does not mean you don’t care; it means you are choosing to do more important things than watch the news nonstop. Take a break from the news, whether it’s 24 hours, 48 hours, or more.
2. Spend time in nature.
While I love being at home, there is nothing like being outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Even if it is cold outside, take some time to be out in nature. It will help to calm and relax you.
3. Plan your garden.
Gardening will help you to be outside in nature more often. You can plant herbs, flowers, vegetables–whatever you would like. A cousin of mine once mentioned that gardening is free therapy. If you have limited space, you can plant a container garden.
Go here to read the benefits of gardening.
4. When the world is in chaos, spend time with a good friend in person.
We live in a day in which we can video call someone overseas for free through several different ways. While this can be a huge blessing when we live far away from relatives and friends, nothing replaces in-person relationships. Spend time with a friend by sharing a meal, taking a walk, or working on a garden together.
5. When the world is in chaos, feed your family the healthiest food possible.
One way to do this is to garden, even if you can grow only herbs. Shopping from local farmers also often gives you food that is more nutritious than what can be purchased in stores. When stress levels are high, our bodies need the maximum amount of nutrients possible. Plus, you can save money by cooking from scratch at home instead of eating out.
6. Spend more time together as a family.
As many problems as are in the world today, one of the most critical ones is that families are under attack. Meals are not eaten together at home. Family members are busy with their own individual activities outside the home. Remedy this as much as possible. In chaotic times, we need to have strong families. Here are some examples of activities you can do at home together:
- Clean
- Sing
- Garden
- Cook
- Read
- Bake
- Sew, knit, or embroider
- Draw, color, or paint
- Organize
7. When the world is in chaos, fill your mind with helpful things.
The best way to do this is to read the Bible, especially the Psalms. You can also listen to the Bible as you go about your day.
Another way to fill your mind with helpful things is to read wholesome literature that shows how people survived through hardships. Here are a few books that I have read recently that would be an encouragement to you:
Willow was such a blessing to read. Libby the heroine goes through many struggles with her health, family, employment, and much more. It is a blessing to read how God works through all these struggles and helps her in and through them. I loved to see God’s hand in Libby’s life even though her world seemed to be falling apart. I highly recommend this book!
Remember My Royalty by Hannah E. Griggs
Remember My Royalty is about three orphaned children who leave their homeland of Scotland to immigrate to Texas in the early 1830s. While they are blessed to be reunited with their uncle, they face challenges in their new home. I loved this book for all the historical facts regarding the Texas Revolution. You can read my review here and my interview with the author here.
The Pocket Measure by Isabella Alden
The Pocket Measure is a favorite book of mine because of all the wisdom in it. Warren and Callie Spafford are newlyweds who are determined to live within their means. This book has taught me to many valuable lessons, both financial and otherwise. It is such a good book that I strive to re-read it annually. You can listen to it here or purchase a copy here.
Lighten Our Darkness Series by Sarah Beth Brazytis
This is a Christian historical fiction series set during World War II in London, England, and other places in Europe. Most of the books I read in one day because they were so fascinating. The first book is about a Polish RAF pilot who finds an American orphan after a night of bombing in London. I loved the Bible verses in these books as well as all the lovely homemaking aspects of them.
Reading these books will help you to realize that we are not the first generation living through chaotic and uncertain times and that others put their trust in God while they lived through personal, national, and international tragedies.
8. When the world is in chaos, take excellent care of your home.
Our homes should be places of refuge when chaos is all around us. We can take care of our homes by sweeping, dusting, organizing, vacuuming, and tidying. If your home is not as peaceful as you would like it to be, I encourage you to take your planner and go from room to room to note all the things that need to be done in each room to make it cleaner or more organized. Then, take a few minutes a day to work on those tasks. For more homemaking inspiration you can read the following blog posts:
- 7 Homemaking Tips from In the Way by Grace Livingston Hill
- 9 Homemaking Tips from Nobody by Susan Warner
- 7 Spring Cleaning Tips from The Honor Girl by Grace Livingston Hill
- 10 Homemaking Tips from Aunt Hannah and Martha and John by Isabella Alden
- 10 Homemaking Tips from Little Fishers and Their Nets by Isabella Alden
9. When the world is in chaos, take excellent care of your health.
When there is already so much going on in the world, no one needs to be ill on top of all that. Here are a few products that my family uses daily to maintain our health:
- Aloe Vera Gel – we drink this at least once a day to help support digestion, immunity, and natural energy levels.
- Aloe Blossom Herbal Tea – we consume this often to help with our immunity and to wind down in the evenings.
- Forever Active Pro-B – we take this daily to support our immunity and digestive health.
(The links above are affiliate, meaning that I will make a small commission if you choose to purchase anything through them. Thank you for your support of our small family business.)
10. When the world is in chaos, pray.
Pray for wisdom and peace for you and your family. Pray for your friends. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for those whose health is failing them.
In short, when the world is in chaos, focus on what you can control. Take care of yourself, your family, your friends, and your home. Be careful what you allow to enter your mind.
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