Anxiety – Hope for Complete Healing

Ten Ways to Live in Peace to Maintain Mental Health

Are there people who make you miserable? Do you have a hard time living in peace with family members, co-workers, or even church members? Are you triggered when someone challenges you or disrespects you?

Peace is a hallmark of someone who does not let people and situations affect them emotionally. How can someone do that? I admire those who stay calm and can be rational with those who are angry and dysfunctional. I have always reacted negatively to those who were mean to me, which is human nature. I often become anxious when situations are outside my control. In this post, you will learn the ten ways to stay above chaotic people and situations that affect your mental health.

I grew up in a very angry home, where fights were the norm every day. I never had peace or joy in my life, even when I lived alone, because my mental health was affected by the chaos of my past. Then I married an abusive man, who antagonized me with constant threats and put-downs. The fights were horrendous because my old tapes replayed in my mind. I desperately wanted to feel valued and loved. Have you ever noticed that where there is love in the home, there is also peace and joy? Where there is respect, there is peace and cooperation.

First, Deal With Your Own Peace Issues.

You can’t live in peace with others if your mind and heart are filled with conflicting emotions from past trauma and painful memories. When I worked through my peace issues, I became emotionally stable. I am a completely different person today, and as I continue to work through peace issues, I can now separate myself from the emotions of another person and not let them bother me. For example, a woman who is contentious came up to me on several occasions and spoke in an unkind way. I was able to smile and listen to her and not react out of my past insecurity tapes. That is when I knew I had victory and could live in peace with anyone. The other way you know you are living in peace is if you don’t repeat the matter and gossip. Not being triggered by other people’s weaknesses is the victory we are to strive for.

Peace is as big an issue as love is to God. Matthew 5:9 states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Peacemakers are not people pleasers, but they make peace with those who are controversial. And Hebrews 12:14 states, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Striving means to work hard for. People who make an effort to live in peace with those around them are also holy. Holiness is having a pure heart and living in perfect, harmonious union with God and people. Holiness is a huge topic that I will not cover in this post. Please read my posts about why and how to purify your heart and soul. WHY HEAL YOUR HEART AND PURIFY YOUR SOUL? and Five Steps to Heal Your Heart and Purify Your Soul.

Second, Give the Circumstances to God and be Thankful.

It is hard to have peace when the world around you is falling apart, or your health is falling apart, or your family is falling apart. God wants you to cast your cares and anxieties on Him because He cares for you (1Peter 5:7). The devil is looking for a chance to steal your peace and joy, through chaos. Overcome the devil by keeping your faith and eyes on Jesus (1Peter 5:8-9). In John 16:33, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Being thankful is another way to keep peace in your heart despite your circumstances (Phil. 4:6-7 and 1Thes. 5:16-18). For example, you get a flat tire and you are late for an appointment. Before you get upset, thank God for his protection and for giving you a sound mind to know what to do. Ask God to help you and keep your mind on God’s perfect will being accomplished in the situation. It is amazing how being thankful helps you maintain a sound mind.

How to Respond to Those in Opposition.

I came across Second Timothy 2:22-26, which offers insight into how to live in peace with difficult people. In today’s politically divided world, we have ample opportunity to practice living in peace. Romans 12:18 states, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

22) So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. When we were young, we would take everything personally. If someone didn’t do what we wanted, we would get angry. If they snubbed us, we would get angry, and so on. Now we are to put away our youthful passions and childish thinking and love others (1Cor. 13:4-11). We must now pursue (strive for) righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

23) Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. We are all familiar with foolish, ignorant controversies, so I won’t describe them here. If you know an issue is controversial, do not become emotionally engaged with it. As I said earlier, when you are at peace in your own mind, then you will be at peace with others. No one ever wins a quarrel, which is why Satan baits us to quarrel with each other. The definition of quarrel is a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling (dictionary.com 2025). Quarreling destroys relationships.

24-26) And the Lord’s servant must

A. not be quarrelsome

B. (be) kind to everyone,

C. able to teach,

D. patiently enduring evil (trouble, Rom 12:12),

E. correcting his (or her) opponents with gentleness.

God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Conclusion

The ten ways to live in peace are:

Deal with your peace issues to eliminate the triggers that cause emotional upset from other people’s rude unkindness.
Pray and give all your troubles and concerns to God.
Be thankful in every circumstance, even those that are stressful.
Strive for and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Do not quarrel.
Show kindness.
Teach the truth.
Be patient.
Gently correct those in opposition.
Set your mind on the things of God and purify your heart.

1Thessalonians 5:23 states, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright-protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

Breaking Emotional Addictions

Did you know that anxiety and sadness produce stress that often becomes addictive? I was born in a stressful home, which set me up to be addicted to stress brain chemicals. As an adult, my brain continues to conjure up images of family members rejecting me, which makes me sad, angry, and anxious. I asked God why I was doing this. God showed me I was addicted to the feeling of sadness and anxiety. God also showed me an addiction to anger, which was the first stronghold He broke in my life. Read about it here. I didn’t feel peace, joy, or love. A great article to read is “Are You Addicted to Stress?“

Replace Anxiety, Sadness, and Anger with Peace, Joy, and Love

Ask yourself three questions. Do I feel peace, and how often, on a scale of 1 to 10? Do I feel joy, and how often, on a scale of 1 to 10? Do I feel love, and how often, on a scale of 1 to 10? If you do not feel peace, ask God why. Let Him show you what you are worried about that you may not be aware of. If you do not feel joy, ask God to show you what you are sad or angry about. Often, resentment stemming from past hurts prevents us from experiencing joy. If you don’t feel loved, ask God why. You may need to forgive those who did not validate or accept you, even childhood friends. Remember, every action, whether good or bad, creates a thought, a related emotion, a belief, and a subsequent action. God is our healer, and He wants you to be healed entirely, which includes mental healing.

I am keeping this post brief so you can take the time to read a terrific post, Why You Can’t Let Go of Worry and Anxiety by pkadams Blue Skies and Green Pastures

Conclusion

There is hope for complete healing and becoming free from the addiction to emotional stress. You may need to see a trauma counselor to help you navigate why you continue to be anxious, sad, or angry. My online book will also help you understand what is happening inside your heart and how to overcome to feel peace, joy, and love. My last post is a good starting point.

RELATED POSTS

What Controls Your Thoughts?

ALL THOUGHTS ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL

Thoughts That Create Peace Within and Without

Mental Health Posts

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of relevant promises to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com, and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

How to Develop Emotional Resilience

Are you naturally positive and happy from the time you were a child? If so, you have tremendous emotional resilience. Most people, however, are not emotionally resilient. You may think you don’t let hurtful people affect your thoughts, but they do. The phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is untrue. Words and actions are powerful.

So, what is emotional resilience? The article Why Emotional Resilience Is a Trait You Can Develop explains, “Those with a higher degree of emotional resilience can handle the stresses that come with daily life more effectively and calmly. They are also able to manage crises and mean people more easily.” In this post, you will learn how to develop emotional resilience in the face of most events involving disappointment, loss, and offense.

What Causes an Emotional Crisis?

Offenses, loss, and disappointments of varying degrees cause emotional crises. Some examples could be: Your parents didn’t get you something you wanted when you were a child. Guests arrive late, and your meal is ruined. Your pet dies. The store ran out of your favorite chocolate. You or your child fails an exam. You get a flat tire at night. You don’t get the promotion or job you want. A friend gossips about you. We face many disappointments, losses, and offenses throughout our lives, often daily. What is your natural reaction?

I can only speak for myself and what I have observed in others. Most people are disappointed by unmet expectations (stated or unstated) and become angry, frustrated, withdrawn, or depressed. When someone fails to meet your expectations, you may feel invalidated and not valued. Validation is the act of affirming a person or their ideas, feelings, actions, etc., as acceptable and worthy (Dictionary.com, 2025). Not feeling validated or valued creates a host of unhealthy beliefs about yourself that lead to shame and unloving behavior.

Some disappointments and offenses may never be resolved, and we need to accept them. For example, I never saw my father again after he left when I was 15 years old. It made me feel unvalued and insecure. I developed betrayal and abandonment issues and strongholds. Many years later, when I grieved that loss, forgave him, and asked God to heal the memory and release my resentment, then I had peace. Perhaps you were wronged by a friend or coworker or felt wronged. Often, people unintentionally offend us but do not mean to; they aren’t thinking and need grace.

Emotional Resilient Way to Handle Disappointment, Loss, and Offenses

Who would you rather be around? A grateful person or a constant complainer? Which are you? Focusing on what you can be thankful for creates positive emotions. The more you recount what you are disappointed or offended about, the more negative feelings and resentment you develop. Being thankful creates peace and joy.

What do you think when someone says you are overreacting? Do you get more emotional? To be emotionally resilient, you need to redirect your emotional response from the amygdala (the emotional brain center) to the prefrontal cortex (the logical, reasoning, and thinking brain center). I realize that the sooner I pray about the situation instead of stewing about it, the sooner I can control my emotions.

The first step is to recognize the progression of emotional reactions. Second, learn how to transfer the emotional response from the amygdala to the logical thinking prefrontal cortex. I initially designed this list to help me regulate my emotions better. Then, I further developed it to help a young boy who was very depressed and whose anger was off the charts. I shared this list in my county jail Bible study, which helped the girls understand how to control their anger and despairing thoughts.

Acknowledge your emotions. What are you feeling? Sad, angry, frustrated, depressed, etc. Has anyone asked you to identify your feelings using a list of faces? This is good for children. Helping children identify their emotions is the first step to teaching them to be emotionally resilient. Expressing your feelings helps you move out of the amygdala and the fight, flight, and freeze modes.
Identify the expectation that was not met. Now, you are thinking and not reacting.
Ask yourself if your expectation was unspoken, but you assumed the other person or people knew what you expected. Now, you are being logical.
If you stated your expectation, did the other person/people acknowledge or understand it, and did they agree to fulfill it? Now, you are reasoning.

Let’s say you expected the dishes to be washed and put away, and the kitchen to be clean when you got home, and you had made your expectations known. You come home after several hours, the dishes are not done, and the kitchen is not cleaned. What do you do? The following “Victory Plan” takes practice, which we get plenty of in this fallen world. Remember, everything you do is to be done in love (1 Cor. 16:14).

I want to add one more healthy practice to the Victory Plan: When you feel emotional about a situation, do not address the issue with the person at that moment. Do not send a text or email while you are emotional because you can’t take back your words. Romans 12:17-18 states, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” The Apostle Paul gave this mandate to us, which seems impossible, but all things are possible with God (Matt 19:26). Continually praying will help you become emotionally healthy because as soon as you are disappointed or offended, you will give it to God before it turns into resentment.

VICTORY PLAN OVER ANGER, DEPRESSION, and ANXIETY

1. Acknowledge your disappointment. Ask, “What can I be thankful for?” Disappointment from unmet expectations can leave you feeling angry or sad, but you don’t want to ruin a relationship with your anger or silence. Recall the following truth: “I can rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and be thankful in everything for this is the will of God…” (1Thes.5:16-18). When I’m upset, I stop and ask myself what has disappointed me. I pray and surrender my hurt feelings to God, asking what I can be thankful for instead. You should talk to the person who disappointed you, so ask God to help you understand how you will manage the interaction with love. Next, I pray, “Lord, help me accept that things won’t always go as I expect. Take my disappointment. Please help me understand how to manage unmet expectations. I will be thankful for __.”

2. Capture unhealthy thoughts that lead to strong emotions. Ask, what am I thinking right now? Say to yourself, “I want to be controlled by love.” Remind yourself that love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful (1Cor. 13:4-5). Tell yourself that God will help me, I don’t have to be afraid (Heb. 13:6). Ask God how to manage the disappointment as He would. Then pray something like the following. “Lord, take my unhealthy thoughts of ___ and give me the right thoughts according to Your truth and will. Help me submit to Your standard of love and love others and value them as I love and value myself.

3. Admit your hurt feelings, such as not feeling validated or feeling unloved and rejected, and so on. Recognize you are offended and resentful. Forgive those who hurt you or who offended you. Pray for those who mistreat you (Matt 6:12 and 5:44). Be kind and tenderhearted. Forgive as Jesus has forgiven you (Eph. 4:32 & Col. 3:13). Acknowledge that you feel hurt, mad, or afraid because ___. Ask: Do I feel rejected? Unworthy? Unloved? Betrayed? Next, pray something like the following: Lord, I forgive _(person)_ for _(what they did or did not do)_. Take my hurt feelings and resentment from me. Thank You for filling me with Your love and acceptance, in Jesus’ name.

4. Identify wrong beliefs about yourself, others, or God from that disappointing situation. What do I believe about myself at this moment? What do I believe about the person or situation at this moment? Wrong beliefs control your emotions and actions, so identifying and replacing them with correct beliefs will help you transition from feeling emotions to thinking rationally. An incorrect or unhealthy belief is a lie about the true nature of reality, and we need to shine truth into our hearts to correct these lies. For example, if you believe you are not worthy of love, you believe in a lie. It is a faulty conclusion. Replace the unhealthy beliefs with these truths: I have worth, I am accepted and loved, I am complete in Christ, and I am a new creation (Col. 2:9-10; 2Cor. 5:17). I am valuable because I am made in the image of God; this makes me significant (Gen. 1:27). The person who offended me is valuable and worthy of being loved. Next, pray, Lord, remove the influence of evil spirits from my mind, which leads me to hold wrong beliefs. Remove these wrong beliefs from my mind and help me believe your truth about myself and others in Jesus’ name.

5. Confess sinful actions and hurtful behavior. The longer you think unhealthy thoughts, feel angry or sad, and believe lies about yourself and others, the greater the chance you will sin. Ask, “What did I do that hurt another person because of my unloving, out-of-control feelings?” What did I do that disobeyed God’s law of love, as defined in 1Corinthians 13:4-6?” King David said, “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sins” (Psalm 38:18). The Apostle John said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Next, pray, Lord, forgive me for ___. Help me be self-controlled and love others by being at peace, kind, and patient with them, in the name of Jesus.

If you want a PDF of this Victory Plan, email me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com, which helps you have a healthy mindset for healthy conflicts.

It is beneficial to journal about the things in your past, from your earliest memories of disappointment, resulting in resentments and false beliefs.
Go through this victory plan for each disappointing memory.
Be mindful to breathe deeply as you follow the victory plan and repeat the truth often.
Write down what happened, who was involved, who needs forgiveness, and how you reacted unlovingly. What unhealthy beliefs were created to reinforce wrong thinking?
To learn more about how to be free from past painful memories, read my online book at hopeforcompletehealing.com.

Check out each of my worksheets to uncover hurt feelings from disappointments and become free from their control over your thoughts and actions.

TRUST AND FAITHFULNESS Issues

MEEKNESS, HUMILITY, AND GENTLENESS Issues

SELF-CONTROL Issues

What is An Emotionally Healthy Person?

May God bless you richly as you seek His help to be completely healthy.

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of relevant promises to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

How to Treat General Depression Naturally

Do you think that depression is a fact of life? Or do you think it is based on a person’s temperament? I guess it depends. My husband has never suffered from depression, except for getting upset about being laid off; otherwise, he is a positive, upbeat guy. Some people are positive people who focus on being thankful and believe that problems provide opportunities. But if you experience depression, it’s a normal part of coping with life in a flawed world. Even King David and the Apostle Paul suffered from occasional depression. Both men hoped in God, which helped to lift their spirits.

I have learned to recognize depression and how self-talk, self-love, and hope in God help me overcome my depression. Though sometimes you can’t lift your soul out of the pit. For me, depression feels like a heavy oppression or a dark, lonely pit. I feel agitated and easily frustrated by little things. I have had to rely on medication temporarily to help me get out of the pit. If a person stays in the pit long-term, their chances of committing suicide are high. If you see a family member or friend not enjoying life, isolating themselves, solely talking about their problems, or even wanting to die, please help them find someone to talk to. Some people need someone else to come alongside them to help them get out of the pit of depression.

Using Anti-Depressant Medication

Some depressions require medications to increase serotonin, dopamine, and GABA neurotransmitters. Some people feel shame when they are depressed. There is no shame; it is a natural reaction to stress and anxiety from trauma or disappointments in life. How do you know you need medication?

If you have long periods where you feel worried or empty.
You have a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
Restless or irritable.
Changes in eating, sleeping, or other habits.
Thinking of death and suicide.

For example, I was irritable with my husband many years ago. He asked me what was wrong. I thought about it and realized I was depressed because my oldest son went to the county jail for a few months. So, I took two natural antidepressants: St. John’s Wort and 5HTP. It is best to take 5HTP in the morning and St. John’s Wort before bed because they have different effects on the brain. St John’s Wort helps you relax, which helps with sleep problems. Taking natural medications was my choice because I am oversensitive to chemical medicines. My mother took every form of anti-depressant for most of her life, so I know they all work to varying degrees. The only problem was that she needed to change the type of medication and the dosage often, which required regular visits to a psychiatrist. My aunt is a psychiatrist, so she has educated me as well.

After a month of taking 5HTP and St. John’s Wort, I was back to my usual self and stopped taking them a month later. However, if you have a genetic brain issue like bipolar depression or psychosis, you should never stop taking your medication because it helps the brain function properly. If you or a family member have thoughts of death or suicide, please seek a Christian professional counselor. This type of depression is helped by medication and psychotherapy. Depression affects every aspect of your life, from family relationships to friendships, job, physical health, etc. So, it must be treated as you need to treat a cold or diabetes.

My husband took a job where he struggled to keep up with the workload. Everyone in the office was stressed and struggled to keep up and deal with hostile, nasty clients. They all hated their jobs and were not nice to each other. His boss was constantly on him about being behind, though he was nearly caught up by the end of each month. The constant stress and negativity affected his mood, so he took 5HTP in the mornings and decided to positively influence his office, do his best each day, and accept being behind like everyone else. This helped him immensely, but he knew he needed another job to be mentally healthy. When he left the office, his co-workers were so sad because he improved the mood of the office through his positivity.

Bipolar depression is a brain disorder that often requires medication to regulate. I did an internet search and found some alternative therapies that help lessen bipolar depression. Here are a few.

Verywell Mind

WebMd –Treating Bipolar Depression Without Medication: What to Know

Psychology Today

Christian Counseling and Self-help Books

I went to many non-Christian, Christian, and pastoral counselors, who suggested how I could manage my emotional pain, but there was no lasting change. I attended abuse recovery groups, like one by Dan Allender, which helped some. I read a lot of self-help books, which was also beneficial.

One author suggested writing a letter detailing what the person did that hurt you. Then, for each offense, write that you forgive them. Next, write something you are thankful for in each situation. He said not to send the letter to the person, but imagine they are sitting across from you and you read the letter to them. He suggested setting an empty chair in front of you as you read the letter to them. Acknowledging the painful memories, forgiving, and being thankful began my journey to being mentally healthy. I was still depressed because of my abusive marriage. I also still had many unhealthy beliefs about myself, others, and God, which kept me stuck in shame and depression.

I wondered how a healthy person is supposed to act, so I read Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and practiced its principles. I wasn’t perfect, but improving is always good. Also, reading Shattering Your Strongholds by Liberty Savard and Healing Codes by Drs. Lloyd and Johnson helped me understand the role of memories and unhealthy beliefs. Listening to CDs on Healing Your Soul by Kati Sousa and Seven Prayers that Heal the Heart by Mark Verkler taught me how to heal my childhood memories and replace unhealthy beliefs with the truth. You can read about my healing journey on my website, hopeforcompletehealing.com.

It is necessary to get Christian counseling that focuses on healing past trauma issues through prayer, forgiveness, and being thankful, which stops painful memories from controlling your thoughts. Trauma, which I explained in my anxiety posts, leads to anxiety and depression. Dark genre choices in media and books make depression and suicidal thoughts worse. Put encouraging words and music into your mind to help you focus on what you can be thankful for, not what makes you unhappy.

CONCLUSION

Many people experience depression. Staying in the pit of depression for a long time can lead to relationship problems and suicidal thoughts. Often, we need others to help us get out of the pit and get mentally well again. Sometimes, we need medication to help us get out of the pit. Seeking treatment for depression is not shameful. Worshiping and hoping in God lifts you out of the pit. Psalm 40:2 states, “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.” Also, read Psalm 42.

RELATED POSTS:

Eliminate Depression with Self-love and God’s Love – March 8, 2025
Conquering Depression by Healing Thoughts and Memories – March 1, 2025
Healing Depression: The Role of Gut Health and Diet – February 23, 2025
How to Overcome Depression by God’s Power – February 15, 2025
How to Overcome Anxiety from Trauma Memories – February 8, 2025

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of relevant promises to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Conquering Depression by Healing Thoughts and Memories

When was the last time you felt depressed? What event occurred that made you sad or angry? Dwelling on thoughts of rejection or potential rejection causes a chemical reaction in your brain that lowers endorphins in the brain. The earlier in life you feel rejected, the deeper your depression is, which has been well researched. I found that my depression went away when I dealt with my upsetting thoughts and memories of rejection.

Most depression episodes begin with your thoughts. The good news is that you control your thoughts. We know that depression naturally occurs when you lose something you love. This post is about how to conquer depression from childhood and situational sadness, fear, and anger. This is a vast subject, and I know I can’t cover it sufficiently. I hope my discoveries and recovery from depression give you hope.

Why Rejection Is the Source of Depression

In my experience, the root of depression is feeling unvalued. Rejection often starts at birth and sometimes before birth. In my case, my mother became pregnant during Nursing School. She had to quit school and marry an immature man in the Navy, so he was away most of the time. The marriage was on the rocks from the very beginning. My mother wrote letters to my grandmother when she was pregnant with my sister and me while being bedridden in the hospital for three months. In those letters, she shared her frustration about my father and the trauma of being in a hospital bed for three months before we were born. She had feelings of shame and anger while pregnant, which created a hormone imbalance in both her brain and my brain.

Throughout my childhood, she was angry and depressed about her situation with my father and could not show love. Because I did not feel loved or nurtured, I developed an attachment disorder. Things improved a little when my mother became a born-again Christian; then, my father professed Christ as his Savior. Their spiritual state changed, but their behavior did not. Both my parents were still dysfunctional from their childhood rejection issues. I realized that we all need to heal our childhood family trauma before we can be mentally healthy, loving parents. I became the same parent as my mother until I healed from the traumatic memories of my childhood. Those memories generated thoughts of fear, sadness, anger, shame, and guilt that controlled my emotions and behavior, and I did not love well.

I discovered that not feeling valued or validated causes a stronghold of rejection to take hold of your mind. It keeps you focused on the events that caused the feeling of rejection, and you begin to ruminate and develop resentment. Resentful people cannot love well. I believe rejection leads to depression because we all want to feel loved and valued. So, when this expectation is not met, you feel betrayed, angry, fearful, anxious, insecure, apathetic, or, many times, pathetic. Is this something you have experienced? There is hope. In my book on this website, I write about how to be free from the stronghold of rejection and many more strongholds. Begin reading chapter one to understand the role our memories play in developing strongholds and depression. 1–Healing Begins by Transforming Painful Memories

Two Powerful Ways to Change Your Thoughts to Chase Away Depression

The most powerful treatment for depression is forgiveness. If you don’t forgive those who did not love you well, then those memories will continue to spawn sadness and depression in your life. For instance, I became depressed when my son and his wife would not make plans to visit when they came back for a wedding. They stayed with her parents, who lived five minutes away. My husband and I invited him and his wife several times for a visit, but they made up excuses. I felt rejected. I let my thoughts go to every dark corner to gather up as much self-pity as my mind could find.

Knowing that I control my thoughts, I came to my senses, went to God in prayer, and then I forgave my son for rejecting us. I also loosed the wrong thinking and a spirit of depression and rejection from my heart. Immediately, the depression was gone. Sometimes, you must do this several times when your thoughts go dark. The Bible says in Matthew 18:18, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” And 2Corinthians 10:4-5 states, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

I took captive my depressing thoughts by loosing wrong thinking from my mind and the depressed, sad feelings from my heart. Later, I called him to see what he was up to. I told him how I felt (minus the self-pity) and that visiting would be nice since we rarely see them. He and his wife came over the next day for about an hour before returning to their home state. I was thankful for that short visit.

The last way to overcome depression is harder than forgiving, and that is being thankful. The Bible encourages us to be thankful in everything, pray continually, and rejoice always (1Thes. 5:15-18). I write about this in my post, A POWERFUL MOOD CHANGER, and I encourage you to read it. Changing your thoughts to forgiveness and gratefulness keeps the spirit of depression away.

Conclusion:

Depression is different for each of us, but it often occurs when you focus on your hurt and loss. To overcome painful thoughts, change your focus by doing things that make you happy and finding things to be thankful for, like focusing on Jesus. Depression from the guilt of sin can be remedied by repentance and forgiveness. When you feel no hope, hope in the promises of God. Overcome depression from rejection by forgiving those who reject you and healing painful memories, which I describe in my book. You can alleviate depression from brain chemistry imbalance by eating a Mediterranean diet, eliminating sugar products, and exercising, which I describe in my last post. It is okay to consider an anti-depressant to correct the brain’s chemical imbalance. When I experience situational depression outside my control, I take Saint John’s Wort at night and 5HTP in the morning to help me get through the difficult time. More about that next week. Whatever type of depression you have, there is hope to get out of the pit and return to peace and joy.

A POWERFUL MOOD CHANGER

How to Recognize and Eliminate Emotional Cancer

The Core Negative Heart Issue.

Five Steps to Heal Your Heart and Purify Your Soul

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of relevant promises to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Healing Depression: The Role of Gut Health and Diet

Are you interested in knowing the root cause of depression? Your mental and emotional health will improve once you fix the root causes. In my last post, I explained how the power of God helped me overcome my depression in college and still helps me today. Spiritual health has a direct link to mental health. In this post, I want to teach you how physical health is linked to mental health. Being depressed like my mother and depending on medications was not what I wanted. I needed to find the root cause of my depression. I used trial and error because I didn’t have the internet.

My Story: How Lifestyle Changes Helped

I became severely depressed when my first husband abused me constantly. At times, I contemplated suicide, so I understand why people think suicidal thoughts. I did not feel valued by my husband, and I felt stuck and thought death was the best option to escape my pain. When I contemplated stabbing myself, I thought about my children, which kept me from doing it. I only thought about my afflictions, which made it hard to have healthy relationships.

Even though I was a Christian and went to church and Bible studies, I felt helpless that my marriage would change. Bible studies help me focus on God as my source of hope and love. Some people turn to drugs or alcohol or both to escape their pain, which significantly increases suicidal thoughts.

My friends were telling me I needed to get on anti-depressants. Knowing how much my mother saw the psychiatrists and changed medications, I knew I could not afford it. I was seeing a Christian psychologist who understood the damage of abuse. She helped me know what healthy love was and how to love myself. Thankfully, she bartered with me, where I did sewing jobs for counseling services. She was good about helping me deal with the trauma of abuse from my husband. However, she did not address my childhood trauma. As a result, I was still angry and insecure. I didn’t know how to love because I did not grow up in a loving environment. But God’s love sustained me during this time.

Because of the trauma from the abuse and not eating well, I suffered from many health problems. My sister gave me a book, “God’s Way to Ultimate Health” by Dr. George Malkmus. I eagerly read it. He had testimonies on the sidelines, and I read about how the raw food diet healed a woman of her deep depression. I changed my diet that day. Within six months, my depression and most of my health problems were healed. My back and joint pain were not cured, but that was because of degenerative joint disease, which is now healed by eliminating sugar, corn, and wheat. I still make 50-80% of my diet raw, plus I eat fish and organic meat. At 63 years old, I don’t have any health issues. I sometimes have migraines, which are hereditary, but those have decreased since I started using Celtic sea salt in my diet.

In Genesis 1:29, it says, “And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.“

The mental health training taught me that gut flora is critical to mental health. Ninety percent of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine is manufactured in the gut and travels to the brain via the Vegas nerve. What happens in the gut occurs in the brain. I improved my gut health by eating a Mediterranean and FODMAP diet with raw sauerkraut. To learn more, read It Doesn’t Take Long to Reset Your Gut Health With Small Lifestyle Changes.

Lifestyle changes also improve hormone imbalances, which also play a role in depression. To understand more, read Can a Hormone Imbalance Cause Depression? Understanding the Link Between Hormones and Mental Health. Eating a healthy diet and exercising improves hormone balance. To learn more, read 10 Natural Ways to B a lance Your Hormones.

Also, read what WebMD says about Lifestyle Changes for Major Depressive Disorder, and Healthline has a great article called Lifestyle Changes for Depression.

Find all the Mental Health posts here.

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All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my latest book, Breaking Mental Strongholds, which you can order on Amazon. To learn more about it, read my post called Breaking Mental Strongholds Book. Also, check out Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. To learn more about this book, read How to Fight Unseen Battles.

How to Overcome Anxiety from Trauma Memories

Anxiety is the number one mental health issue in the world. I will share how I overcame debilitating anxiety from trauma memories. I remain somewhat nervous and distressed when triggered. The internet has many articles on anxiety if you want to learn specifics. This post addresses anxieties beyond typical, everyday occurrences. Getting on a plane or speaking in front of people may cause anxiety for one person but not another. You may get nervous or worried when taking a test, entering a competition, or a job interview. Anxiety from traumatic experiences is a cause of depression, addiction, and PTSD.

I will not tell you that anxiety is weakness and beat you over the head with Bible verses. However, a spiritually healthy person will have less general anxiety because they trust in God and know they can give their worries or concerns to Him because He cares and will act (Psalm 37:1-5 and 1 Peter 5:7). Trusting God is the antidote for general anxiety.

Today, I want to delve into why we have debilitating anxiety and how to overcome it by healing trauma memories. Trauma is an overwhelming event or experience that exceeds one’s capacity to cope and has a lasting and controlling effect on the mind and body.

Anxiety and Stress.

I developed anxiety during my dysfunctional and abusive childhood, which caused a lot of stress. As a child and teen, I dealt with the stress by escaping through daydreaming, reading, watching TV, church events, and going to friend’s houses. Childhood stress often leads teens to escape through drugs and alcohol. Last week, I wrote a post explaining how to overcome stress because stress and anxiety go together. If you remain stressed for too long, you will become anxious. Please read last week’s post if you haven’t already done so. Your anxiety may be triggered as I share my testimony, so practice the stress reduction exercises I described in last week’s post.

I developed a full-blown anxiety disorder when I was married for seven years to my first husband, who was very abusive. That is also when fibromyalgia manifested. During one of our fights, he said, “You will never see the kids if you leave me.” This statement triggered panic attacks, and I still remember the exact moment he said it and where we were. I knew he meant it, and I felt trapped.

I can testify that admonishing someone not to be anxious or fearful who is experiencing trauma or trauma memories is counterproductive; instead, reassure them with something hopeful and guide them to see different options. I could only see my trauma and my need to escape. I had no other perception, even though I prayed for God’s help.

God spoke to me during a prayer walk and said I was free to leave my husband because he broke the covenant of love. I did not think through a safe plan and did not seek counsel, but God was with me, and He protected me and the children. I recommend that you talk with a counselor about a safe plan to leave an abusive partner, especially if you have children. Establishing a support system is helpful. The police department can help you find good counsel. Though I trusted God and knew he cared for me, it did not stop me from having full-on panic attacks every time my husband came to get the children. You can learn more about how God performed many miracles in my life during that time in the post called Trust God to Keep His Promises.

Anxiety and fear

Just as stress and anxiety go together, so do fear and anxiety. After I left my first husband, I became overcome with fear that he would kill me or the children, that he would keep his promise, and that I would never see my children again. As I write this, I am becoming anxious because words have power, and rethinking those words and reliving the emotion generate anxious feelings. So, telling someone not to be anxious but with thanksgiving by prayer and petitions, let your request be known to God, and you will have peace (Phil. 4:6-7) is not beneficial. This is a mental health issue, not a spiritual issue, though they are interrelated.

Overcoming Trauma Memories.

First, I recognize and take the trauma thought captive. Next, I put it out of my mind by saying something like; I take these destructive thoughts “that I will never see my children again” captive, and they are to leave my mind in Jesus’ name. Breathe slowly and deeply while relaxing tense muscles.

Second, I remind myself that God is with me, and I do not have to be afraid because he is my protector. I claim His promise that He is my shield and deliverer (Ps. 18:2 and Ps. 144:2). Putting out of my mind the stressful thoughts and putting in God’s promises helps the most to deconstruct trauma memories. God’s promises give you hope and a different perspective. Prayer works to help you transform your thoughts and wrong beliefs with God’s promises. Read my posts on God’s promises to know what they are.

The hardest thing God asked me to do was to visit the places I did not feel safe. So, I went to my childhood home and asked God to show me the memories of when I did not feel safe there. As soon as a memory came to my mind, I forgave the person in the memory. Next, I put the trauma memory out of my mind in Jesus’ name, along with the spirit of fear or some other oppressive spirit God shows me. Next, I put a spirit of peace or deliverance into my mind. I then thanked God for protecting me, being my shield, and keeping me from greater harm. I went to other locations and did the same thing. After completing this exercise, I was free from controlling thoughts that create anxiety in my life. Before I did that, I would have a panic attack for no reason. I believed they came from my fearful memories of not feeling safe. Once I asked God to heal those memories and put them out of my mind and put in God’s promises, I no longer had panic attacks.

What Trauma Memories to Look for.

As you look through the following list, try not to despair but follow my example of forgiving, putting off the negative memories and the spirit of oppression, fear, or bitterness. Then, replace it with a good thought that God was with you, understands your suffering, and is there to help you overcome it. Apply any of God’s promises. Find something to be thankful for about that situation, and so on. Healing trauma memories is necessary to stop them from controlling your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. I still have memories that need to be healed because I recognize automatic emotional reactions to specific triggers. You also may need to grieve a loss of some kind in the trauma memory. I advise you not to dwell on the loss or trauma.

Violence toward you or someone else: physical altercations, screaming fights, threats of violence, unfair punishments. Did you live in fear?
Emotional, sexual, physical, or mental abuse toward you or someone else. Did you have someone to go to for comfort? Were you abandoned because one or both parents were on drugs or incarcerated? Were one or both parents mentally or physically handicapped or mentally ill and could not care for you? Did you feel supported academically and encouraged to do different things? Was there constant pressure to do better or do more? Did you feel loved and accepted? Were you demeaned and put down?
Neglect of emotional or physical needs. Was there enough food to eat? Was the home a pig stye, and were your clothes not washed, which caused you embarrassment at school? Did you feel nurtured or encouraged to be your best at something you enjoyed? Were you abandoned by one or both parents through death or divorce? Was there empathy?
Were you bullied at home, school, or on social media? Did a teacher or other school personnel ridicule or embarrass you in front of the class?

Trauma memories are very different for everyone, even within the same family. To be free from debilitating anxiety, you must seek God to heal those memories and heal your mind. There is hope for complete healing. To learn more, read my online book.

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of relevant promises to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Why Be Physically Healthy?

The best reason to be physically healthy is because your physical health is directly related to your mental health and quality of life. Anxiety and depression are the number one and two mental health issues, and both can be improved or eliminated by being physically healthy. Being physically healthy requires self-control, a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-24). Disciplining our fleshly desire to be lazy and consuming soda, desserts, and candy is hard. The Holy Spirit in you will help you take care of your body and mind, which is the temple of God (1Cor. 3:16 & 6:19). You can choose what is good to have a healthy body and mind.

The following characterize what a physically healthy person does.

Eat healthy (i.e., Mediterranean or FODMAP).
Eliminate all soda, junk food, sugar, and wheat products. These cause inflammation and weaken your immune system.
Drink a lot of clean water (32 – 64 oz).
Exercises (i.e., daily stretching, mobilization, walking, or strength training.)
Fasts (i.e., intermittent twice a week, 24 -36 hours once per week.)
Rest from working (Sabbath)
Sleep well, at least 8 hours.

Exercise and Mental Health

The link between physical health and mental and emotional health is widely researched. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise has many mental health and emotional benefits. It can help you:

Gain confidence. Meeting exercise goals or challenges, even small ones, can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape also can make you feel better about how you look.
Get more social interaction. Exercise and physical activity may give you the chance to meet or socialize with others. Just sharing a friendly smile or greeting as you walk around your neighborhood can help your mood.
Cope in a healthy way. Doing something positive to manage depression or anxiety is a healthy coping strategy. Trying to feel better by drinking alcohol, dwelling on how you feel, or hoping depression or anxiety will go away on its own can lead to worsening symptoms.
Exercise releases feel-good endorphins and improves your sense of well-being.

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; “Physical activity has many well-established mental health benefits. These are published in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and include improved brain health and cognitive function (the ability to think, if you will), a reduced risk of anxiety and depression, and improved sleep and overall quality of life. Although not a cure-all, increasing physical activity directly contributes to improved mental health and better overall health and well-being.”

Food and Mental Health

What you eat affects mental health, which you can learn more about in this article. An article by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) explains, “A growing body of research points to the mental health benefits of a healthy diet. Studies have identified particular benefits in addressing depression, and several studies point to the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. A 2019 review published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that increased fruit and vegetable consumption positively impacts psychological health, and daily vegetable consumption has a therapeutic impact by reducing symptoms of depression in people with clinical depression. A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine webinar presentation highlighting Nutrition and Mental Health reported on how improvements in diet can improve depression. A healthy diet provides more vitamins and minerals, healthy fats, and fiber from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, which can reduce inflammation and alter neurotransmitters to reduce symptoms of depression.”

Fasting and Mental Health

Fasting improves your mental health. This article by Dr. Roseann explains, “Intermittent fasting, which alternates between periods of eating and fasting, has shown potential benefits for mental health, including the mitigation of anxiety symptoms.” “The act of fasting for 24 hours or more can lead to increased production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a critical role in brain health; low levels of BDNF have been linked to anxiety.” “Fasting benefits by the hour also include the potential regulation of inflammation, which has been implicated in depression. A 24-hour fast, performed regularly, may reduce chronic inflammation, thereby potentially reducing depressive symptoms. Additionally, fasting protocols, such as the 16/8 method, may foster a routine that provides structure for individuals struggling with depression, possibly resulting in a sense of normalcy and predictability.”

Sleep and Mental Health

According to the article by Psychology Today, “Sleep is essential to mental-emotional health and well-being. The relationship between the amount and quality of sleep a person gets and their mental-emotional health is reciprocal. Sleep both affects and is affected by an individual’s mental health status—mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression often make it harder to sleep well, and poor sleep can contribute to worsening mental health. Inadequate sleep is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and feeling fatigued throughout the next day.

Sleep is the body’s primary way to restore, repair, and rejuvenate. Sleep helps restore the cells in the body and wash away toxins accumulated from the day—literally. During sleep, the brain effectively goes into repair mode, activating neuronal connections.”

Conclusion

Can you see the direct link between spiritual health, mental health, and physical health? Prayer connects you to the power source, God, who then helps you be self-controlled. For example, when I go to a church potluck or family gathering, I pray for God to help me resist the temptation to indulge in unhealthy drinks and desserts that make my body weak. A mentally healthy person values themselves and wants to care for themselves. They are self-disciplined and self-motivated to persevere and do what is best for their health so they can enjoy life. They take responsibility for their condition and how to improve it.

May God bless you richly as you seek His help to be healthy.

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of relevant promises to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

WEEK 51: Worship God and seek His presence continually.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! –1Chronicals 16:10-11

Take a moment and write down all the things you think about continually. What thoughts dominate your mind most of the time? How do those thoughts affect your beliefs about God, others, or yourself? How do they affect your mood and behavior?

For example, my son and daughter-in-law just had a baby. She had a high-risk pregnancy and had to be induced. Those thoughts consumed my mind and caused me to be fearful, anxious, and tense. It did not matter how much I prayed and gave it to God. So, am I praying with faith or worry? But when I worshiped God, I felt peaceful and relaxed.

Now, my thoughts are fearful that I won’t be as involved in my first granddaughter’s life as I want to be. My daughter-in-law is wonderful and has a very close relationship with her family, so they get the lion’s share of her time and commitment. I now have to analyze my wrong thinking about rejection and the subsequent unhealthy belief that I am not valued. All this stems from childhood abandonment and neglect issues from both my parents. But when I turn my thoughts to praising and glorifying God my anxiety and depression disappear. So amazing. Colossians 3:1-2 states, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

God puts us in situations to reveal the hurtful issues of our hearts that He wants to heal. Remember, one of God’s commands is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We can’t love God wholeheartedly or others if our souls are full of hurt and worries that consume our thinking. Take unhealthy thoughts captive through the power of the Holy Spirit and command them to be gone in Jesus’ name. Next, ask God to show you why you have those fearful or angry thoughts and work through the healing process of the hurtful memories that I explain in my online book. The most transformational thoughts are thoughts of thanksgiving, which can be about anything to be effective. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 states, “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Not only are we to worship and glorify God but to continually seek Him and His strength and presence through prayer and praise. “Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.” Singing helps to focus our mind on worship and entering God’s presence. I am not someone who remembers songs, but I can make a joyful noise and serve Him. Psalm 100:1-2 states, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! ²Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”

I pray you are encouraged and challenged to take unhealthy, ungodly thoughts captive and transform them into thankful thoughts. As you worship God this week, seek His presence when you first wake up and before your feet hit the floor, then continually throughout the day.

WEEK 51–December 17-December 23

Day 351-Dec. 17—Worship God for the free gift of eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 6:23

Day 352-Dec. 18—Worship God for bestowing His riches on all who call on Him.

For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. –Romans 6:11-12

Day 353-Dec. 19—Worship God, who does not revoke His gifts and calling.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. –Romans 11:29

Day 354-Dec. 20—Worship God, who gives you endurance and encouragement to live in harmony with others.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Romans 15:5-6

Day 355-Dec. 21—Worship God for giving you hope and filling you with all joy and peace.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. –Romans 15:13

Day 356-Dec. 22—Worship God for giving you His Spirit, who gives you understanding.

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. –1Corinthians 2:12

Day 357-Dec. 23—Worship God for giving you the mind of Jesus Christ.

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. –1Corinthians 2:16

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Verses are from the English Standard Bible. To review the previous weeks, visit the 365 Days of Worship Page. This post is copyright protected.

11—God Promises to Give You Peace and Rest

Would you agree that we live in a world full of chaos and hate? Does the world news make you anxious? Do you feel stressed by the pressures of life? If so, God promises to give you rest and peace. Imagine that you are lying in a hammock under a shady tree, relaxing by a pool or lake somewhere, or sitting on a porch swing reading a captivating book. Sounds relaxing, doesn’t it? God promises to give you everlasting rest and peace that rivals the ultimate relaxation situation.

What do you need rest from?

We need rest from carrying our worries and responsibilities. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” When our eyes are on Jesus, and we pray about everything, we will stop striving and feeling weighed down by the world’s concerns. 1Peter 5:7 states, “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” King David said in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” So when you pray and give your cares to God, He promises to sustain you, and you won’t be moved, that is, to be provoked. The Apostle Peter tells us in 1Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Doing evil is disobeying God.

We also need to enter God’s eternal rest. Hebrews 4:1, 6, 11 explains, “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.” 6) “Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience.” 11) “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” These verses encourage us to strive to obey God, so we don’t lose our eternal rest. In my last post, I explained how God promises to rescue us from His wrath when we obey Him and do what is right. Hebrews 4:1 says we are to “fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it [His rest].” This type of fear is forsaking evil and not giving in to our sinful nature and lustful desires but turning to God and obeying His commands.

How do you achieve peace in a world full of troubles and chaos?

I found that peace resides in my heart when I look to Jesus and give Him my concerns. My favorite go-to Scripture verse is Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” I wrote a series of posts about trust because trust is so hard to do, and we become disappointed when our expectations are shattered. Understanding God’s promises help us trust Him. 2Corinthians 1:20 states, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” God keeps His promises because it brings Him glory.

Troubles Are Inevitable, but Peace Is a Choice We Make

Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Jesus has overcome the world, but how do we overcome the world? 1John 5:4 explains, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Because we have faith that God keeps His promises, we don’t have to carry the cares and troubles of the world. The Apostle Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:7-8, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you don’t give God the issues that cause you anxiety and worry, then you choose not to have peace.

When We Obey God, We Will Have Peace

I don’t know about you, but I feel miserable and guilty when I sin. I have no peace when I say or do something that hurts another person. But when I repent and ask forgiveness, I also must ask God to take my guilt to feel peace again. Proverbs 3:1-2 tells us, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, ²for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.” And Isaiah 57:21 states, “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.” Wicked people do not have peace, which is why our world has so much chaos and hate.

Conclusion

I hope you have been blessed by this post, and I pray you will have peace and rest during these troubling times. Keep your focus on the things of God and not on the issues of our world. There is nothing that escapes God’s notice. 2Chronicals 16:9 tells us, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him [completely His].” God keeps His promises; you can trust Him.

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All verses are from the English Standard Bible. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share the links with your friends and family, hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright protected, and no part of the posts or my book may be reproduced without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

Check out my first book called Fighting Unseen Battles on Amazon. I would love to hear what you think.