How does one cope with those days when you find yourself in the valley of the Mountain’s Shadow? Perhaps it is a death in the family, the feeling of isolation, the aftermath of a meltdown, the lack of money, behaviors and bad attitudes that spread like wildfire throughout the family, tasks that need to be accomplished while everyone wants a piece of your time – or maybe it’s all of the above and more, that make the mountains seem insurmountable and, as much as I hate the word, hopeless. No one can always be ‘up’ and whatever the issue that is causing stress and anxiety, all humans find themselves walking in the valley of the mountain’s shadow from time to time.
The Valley of Hopelessness
Surviving the Emotional Strain
When we are in the valley and see no way out, we lose all sense of creativity and zest for life. I am grateful for my faith during these times and knowing that I am not alone. Sometimes everything is so overwhelmingly stressful that I can’t even put my emotions into words to pray about it. During these moments, I just sit in prayer position. At this point, I’m so lost and off the beaten path that I can’t pray. So, I sit – quietly. Later, the words will come.
There is nothing wrong with just going through the motions when the days seem dark and the tensions from stress and anxiety have created a tangled, emotional web. These are days of survival mode and everyone has their own ways of coping. I’ve never been one to pour my heart out on social media. There’s a time and a place and social media is not mine.
I do find strength in the following verse:
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
A Gentle Reminder
I have a reminder note that I have written to myself during what I call In the Valley of the Mountain’s Shadow. It reads:
You are in one of those hopeless moments. While everything is closing in and nothing seems possible – it will end. The storm will eventually pass. A more positive time is around the corner, so for now: rest. Don’t make plans. Don’t move. Just pray. Give yourself permission to through the motions and take a break from pushing forward. Tomorrow is another day and in time, God will renew your strength. Then, you will fly.
A Comfort Routine
Relief for Stress and Anxiety
During troubled times, it helps to have a comfort routine. My top five contenders to relieve stress and anxiety are:
- Go outside – My favorites go-to stress relievers are hiking, skiing, sitting by a pool, or sitting on the back deck in the sun. There is something soothing about nature.
- Pet my cat – Seriously. Studies show that petting an animal can reduce stress and anxiety.
- Start an intake of Bach Floral Remedies – When I am in the valley, I add drops of Bach Rescue Remedy and Elm to my beverages. Rescue Remedy relieves anxiety and Elm is for those times when responsibility is overwhelming.
- Keep a journal – I write down the events that led to the valley in the first place and I make a list of all that seems hopeless.
- Go to bed earlier – Sleep is detrimental for hiking out of the valley. The lack of sleep drives depression and the sense of hopelessness. Most of all, being tired and brain dead makes everything look bleak and daunting, definitely not a time to make large decisions.
While the valley is a difficult place to be and hopelessness abounds, it is essentially my resting place while I’m going through the motions. Rarely does it take more than a few days for the sun to peak through and my mind starts sifting and sorting the issues at hand.
The Trek Out and Upwards Prioritizing and Resizing Problems
When the fog starts to lift and the sun peaks through, and the valley seems to brighten just a bit, I take my list of all the issues that seemed so hopeless. I prioritize each item and weigh its importance. Then I break each one down further.
If the valley is caused by the stress and anxiety from a certain child’s nuclear meltdown, then I list how I’m going to approach a discussion about what happened, study the red flags, note what I could or should have done differently, how I’m going to help other witnesses, and what the consequences are going to be.
Resizing the Problem
Breaking issues into bite size pieces are more palatable and easier to look at than a whole. I take one issue at a time on the list. How can I make it happen? What steps or calls need to be made? Having a plan creates a peaceful mind.
Life has its lows and highs just like valleys and mountains. We can’t be ‘up’ all the time and the ‘down-times’ won’t last forever. They do end. Issues get resolved or eventually will fade to the past. Life moves on. No one wants to be in the valley, but I’ve come to look at it as a time of rest while waiting on God to renew my spirit. It is the beginning of another chance to regroup and reorganize.
*Reminder* This is a safe site for children. If not tastefully stated, your comment will disappear in a “POOF”!
