Lately I’ve been feeling down because of a sense of loneliness. Although I have good friends in spots in different parts of the country I’ve been living in, I’ve struggled to make close friends where I’m living.
I sent a message to another expat who has had more on-field experience than me, and this is what she responded:
1) It’s not your imagination about relationships [here] being on the surface — people here are very insecure […] not discreet about each other’s “heart issues” and gossiping is rampant
2) Spiritual warfare is ramped up and the opposer knows just how to amplify the intensity of the acculturation and discourage you from the calling on your life
Actually, during those episodes I really learned what it meant to be the friend of God. Jesus is a friend, but I don’t think up until I experienced that level of loneliness that I knew what it meant to be His.
During very hard times, when I could only get through the day hour by hour (if not minute, by minute) I would seclude myself in worship. Like literally. There was a school of worship nearby and I would walk there and sit/walk/talk/dance/lie down/kneel in God’s Presence until I could feel the oppression lift off and I was renewed in my hope, only then would I dare to get back up and walk back out into the “field”…and I always felt much better. My go to is always praise/worship.’
I am emotionally at this point as I adjust to living in a new country, and as depression is my weak point. I know many of my fellow expats experience the same thing. The enemy is going to use your adaption process to try to discourage you from your calling. Here are some of Satan’s lies:
- It will always feel this way. It won’t! You have entered into the hardest phase of the adaption process. The good news is, this means that you’re moving along. As you work your way through this it will get easier.
- There is something wrong with you for experiencing this. This is normal, so normal that researchers have described the pattern and books have been written about coping with it.
- That you’re inadequate, you can’t be useful and successful here. God has been preparing you for this all your life and He won’t stop now. It’s His work through you, and He crosses all cultures, all life transitions, all of our deficiencies. No fear, just trust, calling on Him for help, and He will fulfill His purpose in you and through you.
Tips for good feelings management:
-> Acknowledging them and not guilting yourself. Tell trustworthy people about them.
-> Stay engaged with supportive people who can understand.
-> Taking mental breaks, like going for walks and talks with a friend or loved one.
More suggestions:
1. Vent through journaling and/or sharing with a trustworthy loved one, or some other way of expressing your feelings which won’t be a negative influence on others.
2. Remember that you don’t have to be a different person to live in another country.
3. Remember that God uses everything for your good, including this.
So rather than trying to fight off the feelings, when they come, ask God to use them effectively in your life to deepen your relationship with Him, and to further equip you for His service. See these feeling as a tool He’s using and ask Him for wisdom in how to get the most out of this experience. Ask Him to carry this load of feelings for you when it gets too heavy for you.
4. Observe what you’re experiencing and processing like an outsider would, and document this.
Then you will be able to understand and support someone else one day. If you have to go through it, don’t waste the opportunity to maximize your ministry opportunities from it!
5. Continue those mental breaks from processing all of this.
Intersperse your day with things that are relaxing or fun for you or that challenge you, things that distract you into another space for just a little while. My mom recommends having occasionally having a supreme, all out, extravaganza pity party. If you like writing, try to write it out. It might sound like this,
“I hate my life. It’s not worth living. Why? Because so-and-so does not approve of me. Yes, I know that I am dearly loved by God who takes care of me in every way. I am dearly loved by my husband, my kids, my parents, and a bunch of friends. They would enjoy me and talk to me any day. I have a comfortable house, a safe living environment, more food than I can eat, good health, an education, freedom, a good job, and money to buy things I don’t need. There are 7 billion people in the world. But this one person won’t make eye contact with me. My life is utterly ruined!”
“And, I can’t get no respect!”
6. Exercise every day if you can.
Take care of your body, my friend.
7. Eat! Eat! Eat!
8. Even though your feelings are a result of an explainable circumstance, circumstances can trigger endogenous (genetic) depression that needs medical help to re-stabilise.
9. You’ve been through difficult times with difficult feelings before.
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
—Psalm 25:14-15
Anna Sojourning 