pandemic — Nicole O'Meara | Blog

Death of a Dogwood: Reflections on Grief One Year Later

The death of my tree was just the last in a string of losses, and there was no holding back the tears. Everything felt heavy, slow, and difficult. My daily rhythms of waking early for Bible study and prayer fell by the wayside. I functioned in survival mode. Still, I found ways to process those things in the safety of my relationship with Jesus. Despite my muddy brain and emotional overwhelm, I refused to give up what I have learned is my lifeline in times of despair: my ongoing conversation with my Savior.

… We learn to trust God because we have to trust God. We’ve got nothing left on our own.

BlogNicole O'MearaApril 30, 2021grief, Joyful Life Magazine, depression, pandemicComment

DEVOTIONAL: Growing with Your Band of Brothers

There are no rules to this growing-in-community thing. It can look different in each friendship circle. Jesus set the example with his disciples. He called them his “brothers” (Matthew 12:49, NIV). They met for prayer, for meals, and for ministry. ⁠

Blog, DevotionalNicole O'MearaFebruary 17, 2021devotional, pandemic, community, Rare Hope SeriesComment

Wait and Hope... Like a Nesting Mother

Whether it’s infertility, secondary infertility, or the complex wait of adoption, countless women have gone through Sarah’s transformation from Waiting Mother to Expectant Mother. Just like Sarah, an unexpected message at an unexpected time changed my laughter from laughter of despair to laughter of joy.

God doesn’t owe us the details of his timing when he is about to fulfill a promise. But sometimes, by grace, we receive those details anyway. Laughing with joy is an appropriate response.

BlogNicole O'MearaJanuary 20, 2021waiting, hope, adoption, pandemic Comments

God in the Age of Compassion Fatigue

Compassion Fatigue is defined as a condition characterized by emotional, physical, and spiritual exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others. It is not a disease; it is a set of symptoms, most notably exhaustion, depression, a strong feeling of helplessness, and chronic stress.

Not only do we not want our caregivers to experience Compassion Fatigue, we don’t want to live life without compassionate caregivers!

Compassion Fatigue is real because humans are limited. No matter how kind and compassionate a person is, no matter how healthy their self-care routines are, every person has a limit to their compassion. But God is infinite. 2 Corinthians 1:3 calls God, “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” God will never experience Compassion Fatigue.

BlogNicole O'MearaSeptember 7, 2020undiagnosed, chronic disease, caregiver, pandemic, compassionComment

Practice Remembering: Help for Isolation-Induced Thinking

I’ve noticed a fascinating thread through sanctifying life events: isolation. If I told you the story of each of those events (and perhaps I will one day), I would tell you that circumstances forced me to go through pieces of those events alone. And in each event, that aloneness drew me closer to Jesus, because He was the only one who could truly, fully be with me for the duration. As He drew me near to Him, I learned more about Him and that knowledge changed me.

That’s the crux. Sanctification happens when we learn more of God’s character.

BlogNicole O'MearaJuly 21, 2020grace, chronic, undiagnosed, pandemic, sanctifiation Comment

Planning an Altar of Praise

I was hoping to find an example of a Biblical character who weathered their quarantine with faithfulness and steady joy. By far, the story that resonated with me the most was the story of Noah. Noah and his family were “quarantined” on the ark for their safety and preservation of life. There are many parallels between Noah’s quarantine and ours. Monotony, worry thoughts and waiting.

But, let’s not forget how the story of the flood ends, and I don’t mean the rainbow. I mean the altar. Noah’s first action after disembarking was to set up a stone altar of praise to the Lord.

BlogNicole O'MearaMay 29, 2020blog, storm, Noah, praise, pandemic, quarantine, patience, waiting Comments

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