“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen…” (James 1:19)

Something still seems “off.”

I’ve sensed it. Have you? Maybe not for everyone, but for more people than you realize. I’m talking about life after the pandemic.

Have you said (or felt) these things? Or has someone you know?

• “The pandemic is over, but I don’t feel the same.”
• “Life is moving on, but I sometimes don’t feel very well.”
• “I’m not sure why, but I’m angry.”
• “I’m worried about my kids.”
• “I should feel better, but don’t—and I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say anything about it.”

Recently, I spoke with therapist Sarah Joy Covey about this very thing. It’s something she has also observed. If you want to hear (or watch) our conversation, you can link to it below. She talks about what she is observing, some of the reasons for why many people feel the way they do, and some best practices going forward.

One of the things she discussed was how, in this new phase of life, a lot of people simply need someone to share their thoughts with. The pandemic heighted the amount of conflict and tension in many people’s lives—including families, friendship circles and sometimes churches. As a result, there aren’t as many places where people feel they can be honest.

Let me just say that a part of me never wants to talk about the pandemic again. Perhaps you feel the same. At the same time, some people are feeling significantly different; and since we are brothers and sisters in Christ, we want to support one another. Sarah said “there can be a crash after a crisis.”

Something else we should keep in mind as believers is that listening matters. There are times when people are sending out cues. They wonder if we’re open to what they might have to say. They wonder if we are someone they can be honest with. Instead of quickly barking about how upset such-and-such made us, or how glad we are that that dark chapter of our lives is over, perhaps we can assume a posture of grace. There are times when we can simply be a receptive place for someone to talk—someone who is perhaps more frail than we realize.

Talking is free. Listening is free. And when done with honest grace, they can be an occasion for God’s healing power to work in our lives.

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Notes and extra content:

—New Podcast: “Something Still Seems ‘Off’ – Sarah Joy Covey on Life After the Pandemic.” Click here to listen or watch, or tune in to ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you subscribe.

–“God meets you where you’re at.” Sermon. May 5, 2024. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.