Few events in modern history have harmed the emotional well-being of people around the world as has the COVID-19 pandemic. The threat of contracting or transmitting a life- threatening disease and the added challenges of anxiety and isolation have had an immeasurable impact on people of all backgrounds.
To help address this situation, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, jw.org, is featuring a video entitled Virus Outbreaks—What Can You Do. The three-minute whiteboard animation offers families practical methods to cope emotionally and spiritually with the effects of the pandemic.
Robert J. Hendriks III, U.S. spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, says, “Since the outbreak of the pandemic, many have felt that their life is slipping out of their control. The material on jw.org helps people of all ages and backgrounds to successfully govern their feelings by using the timeless wisdom found in the Bible.”
This proved true for some California residents. South Los Angeles resident Shawn Austin wondered what his future looked like as the loss of his job, an unexpected health issue and the death of friends loomed over his head. He found relief in the article, “What Does the Bible Say about Pandemics?”
“I enjoyed reading an article that shows how none of these problems are going to last,” shared Austin. “It was nice to hear the Bible’s promises of health problems and other difficulties being eradicated in the near future.”
For Sylvia Winn in Green Meadows, the challenges of caregiving were exacerbated by the isolation of the pandemic. She found a helpful coping tool in the article, “How To Beat Pandemic Fatigue,” which gives this simple yet powerful advice: encourage others. She says, “When I focus on building others up, it keeps me from sitting around thinking ‘woe is me’
Links to 7 practical tools on jw.org:
Virus Outbreaks—What You Can Do How to Beat Pandemic Fatigue
Can the Bible Help Me if I’m Depressed? Anxiety in Men—How the Bible Can Help When Staying Home Isn’t Safe
What Does the Bible Say About Pandemics
