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parents struggling to balance work and homeschooling, while
PHOTO: Pastors and lay
leaders in South Africa study
and practice teaching God’s
Word together.
8 CULTIVATE
the first to enter Rwanda. In the three years of our trauma
Building Hope and Resilience
Amidst Covid-19
Lament, communities of care, and the new normal
BY DR. GLADYS MWITI
Langham Scholar, Kenya
Like a mighty storm, Covid-19 has left the world reeling and rocking with the very
foundations of “normal” shaken. We shall never be the same again as we learn that
pandemics are no respecter of persons—the royal or lowly, rich or poor, the aged
or babes. We have been equalized—white, black, and colored, Asian, European, and
African. We have seen the underbelly of powerful nations and been reminded that
we all are equal before our Creator God. We all cry with the same tears, our hearts
are broken in the same way, and our worries and fears are as palpable as those near
and far.
As nations face over 90 million Covid-19 infections (as of mid-January ’21) and
the greatest economic recession, the whole world continues to grapple with
traumatic disruptions—increasing Covid-19 deaths; tweets of health workers
holding hands of dying patients as they pass on far away from family and friends;
under the stress and fear of losing their jobs; millions feeling counseling program, we often faced the “why” question as
the isolation of the lockdown and the anxiety that there is we all tried to understand the genocide where in 100 days,
no cure in view as yet. “How long?” we wonder. Covid-19 is 800,000 people were killed with machetes and rifles. In one
not the only crisis. Many countries are spiraling downwards of our meetings, a young woman asked, “Where was God
economically, not only due to the pandemic, but also from when my whole family and villagers died?” As the room
corrupt leadership and self-centered political conniving, rang with the silence that followed, an elderly man named
leaving many wondering, “What next?” Bizimungu, translated “God sees me,” stood up and said,
“I too have struggled for many days with that question. I
Psychosocial impact of Covid-19 have come to realize that God was always there—in each
of our villages and situations, holding us and weeping with
Traumatic incidents come suddenly and leave a trail of fear, us.” Bizimungu’s words echoed African perspectives on
death, and destruction. Covid-19 is a global pandemic that theodicy—a theological perspective that tries to affirm divine
threatens life and creates much uncertainty. The result is justice despite the suffering in the world, suffering that so
panic, fear, isolation, anxiety, stigmatization, “coronaphobia,” often seems arbitrary and gratuitous. The word “theodicy” was
hoarding and anger. The impact is an escalation of mental coined by the German philosopher Leibniz, and is based on
health challenges and social breakdown, especially among two Greek words, theos or “God” and dike or “justice.”
the mentally and psychologically vulnerable—the poor,
jobless, mentally-ill, depressed, and anyone already living with In times of suffering and trauma during this Covid-19
domestic violence and abuse. pandemic, God is with us as we mourn the departed and
protect ourselves from the virus.
Lockdown and quarantine have limited the freedom to Self-care and other care in crisis
socialize and curtailed social supportive networks, including
church life. Helplessness, hopelessness, and isolation amplify Biblical lament
mental health and trauma challenges. As some battle denial
and anger, others are stressed and anxious facing massive job In times of peril, since we know that God is with us, we can
losses as mega companies and industries collapse. A recent practice the discipline of lament. In the book of Psalms, David
meta-analysis of up to 36 heterogeneous studies covering teaches us the secret of lament. For example, in Psalms 41 and
a population of 117,044 on Covid-19 mental health impact 42, we learn to openly pour our hearts to God who does not
indicates the prevalence of 29.6 percent stress, 31.9 percent frown at our thoughts and does not expect a nicely packaged
anxiety, and 33.7 percent depression. The current concern is prayer from his hurting and confused children. When we
that as nations concentrate on controlling the spread of the know that God is with us, sees the storm we are in, and
virus and medical treatment for the infected, mental health
needs are not receiving the required urgency. knows our pain, we can approach him with our tears, fears,
and doubts. Lamenting in God’s presence is the beginning of
Disorientation in times of trauma spiritual self-care in times of crisis. This spiritual discipline goes
hand-in-hand with practicing the disciplines of prayer, Bible
reading, and worship.
In my book Christian Counseling, I discuss the reality of
disorientation in times of trauma—where, in a world that was The practice of self-care and other care
orderly and predictable, things suddenly became disordered
and erratic. At such times, many are asking questions such as: Other practices of self-care involve physical care—sleeping
“Why has this happened?” and “Why me?” well, exercise, drinking much water, eating balanced meals—
and mental care. Taking care of the mind involves adapting
Soon after the Rwanda genocide of 1994, our Oasis Africa ourselves to the new reality, especially managing isolation
team of professional trauma psychologists were among with thanksgiving for the simple joys that brighten our lives—
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