Zoom Fatigue
by Brandon Barnes
Zoom and technology fatigue maybe setting in. I know it is for me — why is this?
This article https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200421-why-zoom-video-chats-are-so-exhausting does a good job of demonstrating why fatigue from video based chats is likely occurring.
As we hit the next phase and stretch of time in this quarantine and isolation we start to feel the sense of our situation bearing down on us proportionally. As humans we really want to maintain continuity and change for many of us is not welcome. Using zoom and/or other collaborative technologies worked initially because we felt it was just another way to achieve almost the same kind of continuity of our lives albeit virtual.
But what now? What happens when we really start to understand that technology is not a replacement for human contact? We are becoming very aware that video conferencing does not achieve for us the same levels of social queues and ease as in-person relationships do… its just not the same as plopping down on a friends couch and just watching TV together or having breakfast together at a restaurant.
So what do we do? As followers of Christ we look to scripture.
1) God gave us other people because he knew we needed it (Gen 1:26–31 & 2:8–18), however, these passages remind us that in our initial condition at creation — God was enough. Human relationships are part of His lavish gifts but not replacements for our first love. Is he enough?
2) The lessons of contentment in scripture are not based in the size of the trials but the size of our God. We can focus so much on the problem at hand that we become victims and our discontentment leads us to bitterness and anger. However, Paul could find contentment in every trial regardless of the size of the trial because of his enlarged understanding of the truth of his savior (Phil 4:10–13). Have we?
3) Challenge and persecution refine us (Romans 5:1–8) — as we become further unsettled and unhinged from our normal routines scripture gives us the lessons we need to push deeper into our trust in God and further think about how we can serve rather then grumble. How are we serving?
Scripture contains story after story of believers in persecution, separation & isolation. What I find extremely helpful are all the examples of how believers in the face of persecution were comforted by the church or God himself. Here are three examples of service & faithfulness bound by creativity that can inspire us to persist in times of trial.
- David receives a sentimental drink of water in his time of hiding (2 Sam 23:14–17)
- Paul receives a care package from the church in Philippi while in chains (Phil 1:13 & 4:15–18)
- Elijah is affirmed and reminded in his solitude and depression of the reach of God’s people & God’s sovereignty (I Kings 19:11–18)
The question to the church — as we feel the pressure towards despair, can we instead go deeper in our faith understanding that:
1) God is enough
2) That our identity in Christ is secure and our contentment can never be exhausted by focusing on the cross.
3) In times of persecution we should expand our creativity in how we minister & serve
Zoom was only going to get us so far — let’s not grow weary but instead in the words of Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:22–26) remind ourselves that his provisions and faithfulness for the day are enough — the church excels in times of hardship because we have this eternal perspective.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassion’s never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord”
