 Been shedding many tears lately? There are circumstances in life that cause sadness. For example, the death of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, a job loss or relocation away from your relatives and friends. Sadness may lead to emotional outbursts, loneliness, anger or frustration. Those feelings may become all-consuming but there is hope. Here are 3 keys to help you overcome sadness, grief and loss.
Practice Self-Care It’s important to practice self-care especially during times of sadness. Try your best to maintain healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits. And get fresh air and sunlight as often as you can. Quiet Time With God Spiritual care is just as important as self-care. Make spending time with God a priority in your daily life. Take time each day to pray, read the scriptures and meditate on God’s word. Our Heavenly Father is the God of all comfort. Allow the presence of God to bring you comfort and peace. Get Help It may take some time to overcome sadness, but sharing it with someone could lighten your load. As Christians, we are encouraged to bear each other's burdens. Everyone is not capable of bearing the heavy load of sadness, and you may need to find a good friend, clergy person, or counselor who can help you. These are practical keys to help you overcome sadness. If you can apply these 3 keys, with God’s help, brighter days are ahead. In the words taken from the book of Psalms, weeping endures through the night, but be encouraged, morning is soon to come bringing with it all the joys life has to offer. Scriptures For Meditation: Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Psalm 138:3, Galatians 6:2, Psalm 30:5 Angela Gresham, MA GodlyCounsel4u.com
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 Do you remember the days when you were a child and played all day long? You didn’t have a care in the world. You could run free. But when you grew up, running took on a very different meaning. Our lives are often compared to running a race. You’re in a race against the world and a race against time. Either you’re trapped in the rat race trying as hard as you dare to get out of it, or you’re trying to beat the clock. From day to day you compare yourself with the next person. If you’re not careful, you can become consumed with the competition that exists within your mind.
Our new life in Christ is also compared to a race being run. However, this race is much different. It’s not about how fast you run or competing with someone else. Although we race to win, it is not a competition, and we shouldn’t compare our race to that of others as if they are competitors. Scripture says “… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” No two races are the same, however, we all can find hope in knowing that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has gone before us. He has redeemed us from the penalty of sin so that we can be free from it. Are you in the Christian race? I encourage you to stay the course by fixing your eyes on Jesus and letting go of all the distractions and the sin that can throw you off course. We all can be winners in this race, and the reward has a value out of this world: eternal life. When you lay aside the hindrances in your life, your race becomes light and you’re destined to run free. Scripture For Meditation: Hebrews 12:1-3 Angela Gresham, MA GodlyCounsel4u.com  Anxiety is that uneasy feeling that you have when you're uncertain about a situation. It churns in the pit of your stomach and just won't go away. Anxiety thrives on your thought patterns; if you think negative thoughts, the anxiety increases. Isolation often accompanies anxiety; the feeling that no one understands causes you to feel alone. Yet isolation only leads to more feelings of hopelessness. Find relief from anxiety with these 4 points: trust in God, pray, share the burden, and speak God's word.
Trust in God Jesus said not to worry about life. In Matthew 6:25-34, He gave an analogy about the birds to explain that God will take care of you because you're more valuable to Him than birds. He goes on to ask a rhetorical question: Can you gain anything by worrying? Being anxious doesn't help matters. But trusting God can bring peace. Pray Pray when you're feeling anxious. David said in Psalm 138:3 that when he cried out to God, He answered him and made him bold. Your Heavenly Father is always available to listen and bring resolve. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul admonishes you not to be anxious, but instead to pray; if you ask for His help in prayer and be thankful for it, you can have peace of mind. Share the Burden Sharing the burden with someone else can help you overcome anxiety. It is often helpful to talk about what's on your mind. Christians are encouraged in Galatians 6:2 to bear each other's burdens. Develop healthy relationships with other Believers who can be supportive and caring. Speak God's Word Proverbs 12:25 says that anxiety weighs you down, but a good word can cheer you up. God's words are GOOD words and you should read them, study them, and speak them. When your words and thoughts veer off into negativity, lift yourself up again with positive affirmations from the word of God. I encourage you to turn to God instead of worrying. He's your source of peace. Putting your trust in Him can help you to live without anxiety. Scriptures For Meditation: Matthew 6:25-34, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 138, Philippians 4:6-7, Galatians 6:2, Proverbs 12:25 Angela Gresham, MA GodlyCounsel4u.com |
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