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Are you feeling the effects of the COVID pandemic and the isolation impact it has had? Mary Lowman and Lisa Bishop talk through the importance and value of community.
Below you will find some bullet points and relevant Scripture that are found in this conversation.
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Social isolation is a term being used these days to describe a lack of social connections. And there’s no doubt that the pandemic escalated this isolation, plus our electronic gadgets have begun to replace person-to-person communication. But that is not enough.
The potential effects of social isolation include:
- Loneliness
- Depression
- Poor sleep quality
- Impaired immunity
- Accelerated cognitive decline
- Poor cardiovascular function
- Impaired executive function
- Increased risk of premature death
And signs and symptoms of social isolation can involve:
- An inability to communicate with others and connect on a deeper level.
- Not having any close or best friends.
- Feelings of isolation, no matter where you are and who you are around.
- Negative feelings of self-doubt and self-worth.
- Feeling unseen or unheard when you reach out to others (they don’t reciprocate your efforts).
- Feeling exhausted or burnt out when trying to engage socially.
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many people around the world to social isolation and the effects it can have as billions of people were locked down at home.
Relevant Passages:
1 Corinthians 12:27: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Philemon verse 7: Paul writes: Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philippians 2:25: But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
1 Thessalonians 5:11: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Romans 14:19: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Colossians 3:16: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Romans 15:1: We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Hebrews 3:13: But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Ecclesiastes 4:9: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.
Romans 1:11-12: I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.