As we enter the fall season with the start of a new school year, we face so many uncertainties, fears and pressures, and it is difficult to make decisions based on limited data. Many people are juggling work, family, in-person and/or virtual school, and continuing to adjust as things open up amidst the nagging fears of a second wave of COVID-19. Then we are also living with wildfires in the west, ongoing protests against racial injustice, a polarized election season, and an economic downturn with high rates of unemployment. In the midst of all these stressors, how can we keep ourselves and those we serve from experiencing long-term detrimental effects, and how can we draw on our relationship with Jesus to bolster our resilience?

This month’s tool provides a framework for thinking about various factors which contribute to the level of impact a stressful or traumatic event can have. The framework also offers ways to think about how you can improve your own self-care, as well as work with others to reduce some of the effects of their stress. It will consider the hope we have in Christ, our eternal support and resource, to foster increased dependency on him.