GPBC Blog

By Rithu Lowry --

I don’t know about you, but I’m struggling right now. I am on edge, anxious, scared, and angry. Not only because of COVID, but also because Barry lost his job mid-March.

For years, I attempted to address stress with alcohol. I would drown myself with whatever wine was on sale that week. I would numb myself so that I wouldn’t FEEL. I worked hard to hide my alcoholism from my family and to ensure that my drinking didn’t affect my work.

It didn’t work.

I was left with broken relationships, disciplinary action from work, and lots of pain.

That was many years ago and today (with 28 years of sobriety) I have learned to navigate stress in a different way.

1. Sit quietly and pray
2. Get with nature
3. Help others

There is nothing that starts my day better than sitting quietly, before anyone has gotten up, and praying. My prayer time is a two-way conversation with God. I speak…I listen. Jeremiah 29:12 tells us that, “Then you can call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”

I need a daily dose of tall trees and bird singing. I feel closest to God when I am in His creation. My walk (or run) gives me peace and joy. Psalm 104:24, “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creation.” 

I am an “order restorer” with the company Restoring Order. I help people with their organizing needs. It really is a ministry. I serve my clients with not only what’s going on in their homes but also what’s going on INSIDE! 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

These are challenging times, and more than ever I am practicing three helpful disciplines of finding rest and peace on a daily basis. And if I need more comfort, there’s nothing that a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies can’t fix!