Good News!
by Joan Vetter
"Oh happy day when Jesus washed my sins away." What joy I felt upon hearing that song played in the movie Secretariat. I walked out of the theater with a Psalms 23 experience of having had my soul restored and wanting to sing or shout “God is good!” Such a modern parable of a come-from-behind win! My pastor's wife says she won't even go to a movie if she knows it has an unhappy ending.
I know life doesn't always have happy endings, and often people experience some depression during the holidays, but for Christians there are things we can do to choose joy. The Bible states that David encouraged himself in the Lord.
First we need to watch what we are thinking about. We can choose to use our memory to entertain pleasant experiences from the past instead of dwelling on what we don't have or what we have lost.
Then we can be set free from expecting too much from the people around us. We can concentrate on the fact that God loves us and will never leave us. As our attention is on the Lord and asking Him how we can bless others it lifts us out of our self centered focus. I just watched a little video where a man was walking through his day so stressed and annoyed at the people around him. Then he was given a pair of glasses. When he put them on he could see what people needed or what they were going through. I don't believe it is too farfetched. Jesus knew the woman at the well had 5 husbands and that she was now living with a man who wasn't her husband. Often it said in scripture that He knew what people were thinking. If we have invited Him to live within us I believe we can grow in the capacity to understand others by the Spirit of the living God.
Another way we choose joy is to spend time in the Word of God. If we understand it rightly it is good news. Perhaps you are burdened because someone close to you is making wrong choices or does not know the Lord. I was encouraged to see a phrase repeated over and over in the Bible. It was, "The word of the Lord came to Micah." Then, "The word of the Lord came to Zephaniah." Also, the word of the Lord came to Jonah, Ezekiel and Zechariah. The Lord used that to speak to my heart, "I can do the same for those you are concerned about." In fact, I have a grandson named Micah so it was especially relevant.
Also, learn to rehearse your blessings. I found some old greeting cards given to me by my husband and oldest son the other day. They are even sweeter now to me. My husband's card read: "I wish I could write a book with a special chapter on each of the reasons why my life is warmer, brighter, better, and a thousand times more fun because of you. But there will never be pages enough or words enough, so let me try to fit all those good feelings into the three things I most want to tell you…..I love you more than ever. I'm more thankful for you every day we're together, and I hope you're as happy to have me in your life as I'll always be to have you in mine."
My son's card read: "Mother, the older I get the more I realize how much you've done for me all my life. I thought all mothers loved and cared for their sons the way you always did for me, but the more I see of this world, the more I know that our relationship is exceptional. I'm so lucky to have a mother who taught me how to love myself as well as others, to trust my own instincts, and to be true to myself. You've always been a special person, Mother, always caring for the people and the world around you. Thank you for raising me the way you did…I really love you. Happy Mother's Day!'
A great depression buster is found in the scripture, "Your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6) Learn to value who you are in Christ - don't put yourself down or agree with anyone else who does, and learn to receive a genuine compliment..
Lastly, celebrate life and savor every blessing with a thankful heart.
