“A flea can trouble a lion more than the lion can harm a flea.” ~ Kenyan proverb
 
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” ~ Proverbs 12:25
 
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:7

Worry and anxiety are like fleas, they end up destroying their host. Fleas are very small, so lots of them can feed on a dog. A simple bath will kill the fleas, so what will kill worry and anxiety?

The sun streams through my window on this glorious Spring day. The Jacarandas are resplendent in their aching beauty. God is everywhere. Yet, I wake up in my default setting of fear while reflecting on the way I hurt and damage others emotionally by attempting to control life. My confusion makes me want to hide in my cave where I forget who I truly am – a child of the King with all His resources at my disposal. Willpower is useless. The root cause is my fear of rejection and abandonment that keeps me tethered to past pain and from accomplishing the intention God has for me.
 
Many years ago, as a young wife and mother, fear about the pain and difficulty in my marriage and unbelief that God could or would intervene nearly paralysed me, later morphing to my children. Anxiety can feel like aching desire that may never be fulfilled. To protect and comfort myself I made an inner vow, “To need hurts, so I will never need anyone again.”  This vow effectively killed my desire and played into the enemy’s by making me cold and hard. Instead of believing and embracing in God’s totally committed love where there is no room for fear of rejection and abandonment, I chose to turn away and rely on myself – a more unstable platform you could not find! Of course, it caused greater anxiety and lack of peace. 
 
Awakening Desire
 
Ultimately, my heart’s cries refused to be silenced. God invited me to listen to my heart as it cried out in the form of anxiety. As i reflect on how previously, we discovered that *Janet, Barry, myself, *Linda and *John each had in common survival needs that depended on certain events not happening. We all carried deep wounds from the past where we perceived we had been emotionally abandoned. Each of us responded with a commitment to remain safe from this ever happening again. Still, deep down each knew this was uncontrollable.
 
In contrast, according to Hebrews 13:5-6 God says He will never abandon us, “’Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’  So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’” Anxiety sufferers must eventually choose to resign as the “keepers of the universe” and learn to sit with uncertainty and ambiguity. We must allow our heart to awaken to its deepest desires for God and the abundant life He offers. This can only be risked from a place of profound belief in a God who promises to never leave nor abandon us! 

Calvin believed that anxiety is overcome by implicit trust. “Christ opens up the source of our salvation [in John 3:16], and He does so that no doubt may remain; for our minds cannot find calm repose until we arrive at the unmerited love of God” (Brentnall, 2005). An old hymn (Sovereign Grace, 1999) declares:

Fear not I am with you oh be not dismayed 
For I am your God and will still give you aid 
I’ll strengthen you help you and cause you to stand 
Upheld by My righteous omnipotent hand 

When through the deep waters I call you to go 
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow 
For I will be with you your troubles to bless 
And sanctify to you your deepest distress 

When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie 
My grace all-sufficient shall be your supply 
The flame shall not hurt you I only design 
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine 

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes!
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

Imagine for a moment if this were not true, “Then, indeed, might the heavens be hung with blackness and the light of the sun be put out forever if God should leave us!… It would have been far better to never have been born, or never to have known the way of life at all than after all, to be deserted of God and be left to perish!” (Spurgeon, 1909). The enemy uses anxiety to make us believe that God’s love and patience will eventually end. During times of worry and anxiety, we need to challenge this belief with Scripture and remember the truth of God’s love and fidelity to us. Renouncing agreements with the enemy and memorising God’s truths can bring us peace and help us cope with anxiety. Psalm 91:1-5; 9-12 (MSG) speaks of God’s tender, protective devotion for us and His continual presence that quiets our fears:

 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
    I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you’re perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing…
 
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
    harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.

 Various other helpful verses that speak of God’s tender, protective devotion toward us include Psalm 46:10, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 56: 3, 2 Timothy 1:7, John 12:27.
 
God created us with deep desire and hope for the future, but due to lack of control, our worry and anxiety shut God out. However, He never leaves us alone. He gives us a way to manage our anxiety, working at resolving our difficulties before we even discover them. Remember in Psalm 56:3 David prayed, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” The Bible implores us to let Jesus do the worrying, so we can enjoy everything God gives us. God’s therapy consists of, “Cast all your worries upon Him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
 
Awakening Desire – The Prospect of Nearness
 
Anxiety sufferers tend to suffer most where we love most – in our attachments. Philippians 4:4-7 contains all the components of attachment to God – an antidote for anxiety:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Just for a moment, imagine a mother with her toddler whom she has taken to the park to play. The mother sits on a park bench while her child explores the world around him. His ability to play and explore is based on the belief that his mother is near and close by. If he needs her he can run back to her for security and safety. If anything were to upset him he could look at her to assess danger. Her response would let him know if it was safe. If anything were to greatly upset him he could run back to her for comfort. He can explore his world because he believes that his mother is near, close and accessible.
 
Following the declaration that the Lord is near, close and accessible to us, God gives us an edict about not being anxious. This goes back to the toddler in the park. He can play contentedly because of his belief that his mother is near. If he questions that, he will be overwhelmed with anxiety.

 Similarly, God is near to us. There are many things to worry about in the modern world. Everywhere there is some new fear to haunt our dreams and burden our days. News commentators exacerbate situations with sensational, bad news stories and advertisers barrage us to pursue the promise of contentment in the latest gadget, new wonder drug, or workout mania.
 
In Philippians 4:5, to trust that God is “near,” we have to trust His good heart. The word means that the Lord is “physically” near or “close” (Stack Exchange, 2019). Psalm 46:1 also declares that the Lord is a present help in time of trouble and will intervene early. Jesus is also called “Immanuel,” a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah meaning “God with us.” The nature of Jesus is that He is faithful to His promises of closeness and nearness to us.
 
To trust this kind of God requires not just a cognitive assent to God’s nearness, but a heart response. When we feel loved, known and understood by someone, we feel close and connected. For those who have not experienced much of this in their lives God offers a corrective emotional experience. Imperfect earthly love cannot be relied upon, as the person may eventually reject us. On the other hand, God’s love is always near and close at hand. Psalm 23:6 (NLT) insists, “Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…” The Hebrew word for “follow” is “radaph” meaning “to pursue, to run after, to chase” or literally “to hunt you down” (Harris, Archer & Waltke, 2003). Radaph is first found in Genesis 14:14 when Abram’s nephew Lot is kidnapped. Abram responds by mobilising an army of three hundred and eighteen men and “pursued them unto Dan.” The spectacle is arresting – God hunting us down – passionately pursuing us in order to bless us.
 
This image is very different from many peoples’ image of God as a rule-bound policeman waiting to pounce and punish those who inevitably fall and fail. But here God says He pursues us to shower us with grace. The Hound of Heaven chases us, breathes down our necks, ravenous to overtake and bless us. Psalm 23:6 in The Message translation declares, “Your beauty and love chase after me…” How are we to respond?
 
Someone once said, worry about nothing, pray about everything. It may be helpful to write this on a card and place it on the bathroom mirror, or wherever we can see it regularly. Then we can turn our worry list into a prayer list in order to defeat the ache of worry and anxiety.
 
How Will Changing Habits Help?
 
Philippians 4:4-7 declares that prayer and petition, with thanksgiving lead to peace. The ache for peace is always the longing of a worrier. The passage gives us a clue about obtaining peace, namely:

1.     Rejoice
2.     Relax
3.     Res

Habits like worry and anxiety can imprison us and habits like praise and rejoicing, relaxation and rest can free us and bring peace. Each of these habits will be explored in the following sections.
 
1.     The habit rejoicing
 
Worry is really a fear that God’s love will end, that we cannot rely on His heart of love and care for us. We have been let down too often and it hurts to trust again. Worry says something like, “What I long for may never happen.” At the heart of worry and anxiety we cry, “Will God run out of love and mercy before my life does? Will my suffering, hurt or tragedy outlast God’s love and mercy?” God says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). Philippians 4:4 persists, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” This command is no less emphatic than, “Do not be anxious about anything.” God wants us to look for the positive in life – valuing what we do possess instead of what we lack. Rejoice means “to feel joy or great delight” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, n.d.) or to swell with joy again, again and again.

Certainly, anxiety does not prevent pain and disaster. However, anxiety does tend to prevent prayer. Despite our gigantic efforts, we cannot control life nor what matters most to us. Solomon wrote, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Prov. 17:22) and, “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15). To believe that God is in control is to either live with uncertainty, or trust that He is faithful enough, strong enough, loving enough to shower grace on us again and again and again. When rejoicing and gratitude become a way of life and a habit, joy in God becomes our life. Even secular research reveals that those who are grateful are more contented. Gratitude:

1. Translates into a relative absence of stress and depression (Wood et al., 2008);
2. Helps us make progress towards important personal goals (Emmons & McCullough, 2003);
3. Renders higher levels of determination and energy (Emmons & McCullough, 2003); 
4. Assists us to feel closer in our relationships and our desire to build stronger relationships (Algoe & Haidt, 2009); and,
5. Increases happiness by 25% (McCullough et al., 2002)

Gratitude changes our brains. Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel (n.d.) observes, “When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.” Research actually confirms that focusing on gratitude (making it a habit) shuts down the part of the brain that worries (Kini et al., 2016). Gratitude actually works! As John Milton (cited by Goodreads, 2020) exclaims, “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.

Consolation and desolation

Ignatian spirituality uses the terms desolation and consolation to determine whether we are moving toward greater doubt, fear and anxiety, or toward faith, hope and love. In desolation, we move away “from God’s active presence in the world” exhibited by “the growth of resentment, ingratitude, selfishness, doubt fear, and so on” (Wright, 2017). Consequently, we become increasingly self-obsessed, negative, isolated and melancholy, lacking energy for daily life. Worrying can take away the ability to enjoy God and life to the fullest. Consolation, on the other hand, draws us to what gives us life. We are energised to move toward God, others and the world and as Richard Rohr (1999, p. 28) suggests, “We’re already in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness.” 
 
To establish the habit of gratitude, the Ignatian daily prayerful practice of Examen, from the Spiritual Exercises is a good place to begin (St. Ignatius Loyola, 2007). Examen forms a key element in Jesuit life (Jesuit Institute, n.d.). Saint Ignatius believed that through this experience we would become more aware of the presence of God and the Spirit’s action in our lives and become more grateful for seemingly trivial, daily graces.
 
The Examen begins as a review of the day recalling God’s gifts and those times that gave us life (even simple things like an invigorating walk or a cup of tea with a friend). We spend time allowing these life-giving feelings to flow through us and then we give thanks to God for His gifts. Our family regularly asks around the dinner table, “What was your gift today?” It is helpful to getinto the habit of typing the gifts as they occur into our Smart Phones – what we are grateful for – so that we do not forget. I like to photograph those images that remind me of God’s faithfulness and beauty in creation. Remember, openness to gratitude can change our image of God and draw us closer to Him.
 
Then, we move to the invitations of the day. Some recollections or relationships may be twisted or broken and we may feel regret, anger or disappointment. Maybe there were times when we shut down to life, where seeming roadblocks appeared, or where we felt driven or caught in a destructive spiral within ourselves or with another. We will try not to judge ourselves. Instead, we attempt to notice the directions that our desires lead us, either towards God or away from God. We may ask ourselves: “Were the desires to do with my self-protection, was I caught up with status, power or security? Were my desires about that which has been awakened to let God be God in my life?” Letting go is not losing something. Rather, it is part of dying to self. It is awakening our souls and coming to life. Thus, we use the invitations to befriend and accept previously unacceptable parts of ourselves, to forgive and to let go of anything that we cling to in unhealthily ways. We pray for the gift of repentance and acceptance. Then, we allow ourselves room to make different choices and rest in God.

2.     The habit of relaxation
 
As previously mentioned, Philippians 4:4 says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” How does Paul’s statement relate to the idea of relaxing? One meaning of gentleness or a forbearing spirit is “easygoing.”  Strong’s Concordance translates it as “gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable, moderate” (BibleHub, n.d.). Another meaning might be “sweet reasonableness,” the opposite of a dogmatic and harsh spirit. So, the verse is telling us to learn to relax and yield a little, to resist attempting to control everyone and everything and to allow God to work in His way and in His timing

Nature and restoration

When my heart hurts and anxieties threaten to overtake my mind and heart, beauty and nature restore. The Japanese know this. A study of Shinrin-yoku (Park et al., 2007) meaning taking in the atmosphere of the forest or “forest bathing”) found that a 15-minute walk in the forest brought about measurable changes in physiology. There was a 16% drop in Cortisol (the stress hormone), a 2% drop in blood pressure and a 4% drop in heart rate. A growing body of research indicates the restorative power of nature. Richare Louv (2016), a journalist in San Diego whose book, Last Child in the Woods, coined the term Nature Deficit Disorder, says, “When I wrote [my book] in 2005, this wasn’t a hot topic. This subject was virtually ignored by the academic world…Now…[studies] point in one direction: Nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical and cognitive functioning.” Another study in the UK (Bell et al., 2020) describes how living in a greener area increases wellbeing, “We’ve found that living in an urban area with relatively high levels of green space can have a significantly positive impact on wellbeing, roughly equal to a third of the impact of being married.” Obviously, the healing power of nature and beauty is an antidote for stress, worry and anxiety.

My backyard!

Certainly, this holds true for me. I am blessed to live among the beauty of the trees. To sit outside with a coffee, feeding Kookaburras and Australia’s exquisite, colourful parrots, fills my soul with quietness and rest. It is the most transformative sermon I could hear. I particularly resonate with Wendell Berry’s poem (cited by Harper, 2014):

Source: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/24/33/ee/2433eeb745153228d23b84f524782cb9.jpg

3.     The habit of rest
 
The Living Bible translates verse Philippians 4:4, “If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Jesus.” Worry not only steals our joy, it blinds us to God’s peace by forcing us to focus on the wrong things. Instead of leading uptight and uneasy lives, we can rest in God’s peace. In the passage, Paul uses a military term for God’s peace – that of a guard marching sentry duty around something valuable and strategic. When we transfer our troubles and worries to the Lord through prayer, we are given a silent sentry called peace to protect our minds and our emotions. Psalm 62:5 reminds us, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
 
In 1941, Brother Lawrence (2017), a 17th-century Carmelite friar wrote, The Practice of the Presence of God, where he documented his intimate relationship with God. Despite his lowly position in the kitchen of the priory, he was known for his remarkable and profoundly peaceful spirit. He had learned gratitude. He learnt that if practising the presence of God brings peace, worry is practicing the absence of God’s presence. Isaiah 26:3 (MSG) urges, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” The Message translates it, “People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.

The Importance of sleep

Anxiety is the leading cause of insomnia. Depression and anxiety have major effects on the quantity and quality of sleep. “I sleep, but my heart waketh” is a famous quote from Song of Songs 5:2 that Shakespeare adopted in Hamlet. We only sleep and dream well with adequate serotonin. Serotonin is one of the most important chemicals in the body. A classic symptom of low serotonin and clinical depression is waking up at three o’clock in the morning. A classic symptom of low serotonin and anxiety is fragmented sleep due to an inability to fall asleep and frequent awakenings. The brain has trouble shutting down with repeated worrying. Moreover, depressed and anxious people often report nightmares and negative dreams. As depression and anxiety improve, the content of dreams also improves. Improved sleep is the most powerful known antidote for depression, anxiety and stress.
 
Repressed anger at God, others or self, either due to actual guilt or false guilt, is another factor that leads to anxiety and loss of sleep. Our thoughts really do have power. Angry, negative thoughts are powerful, both physically and mentally, and bring agitation, anxiety and eventually depression. If we doubt that, take a moment to remember how your body reacts when you get angry.
 
Emotions and thoughts play a large role in modifying the chemistry of our brains. Buried feelings related to the past can cause sleep difficulties. “It was such a lovely day I thought it a pity to get up” (Maugham, cited in Brandreth, 2013, p. 319). Good thoughts bring peace and comfort, as Proverbs 2:21-26 demonstrates:

 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
   don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
   they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
   you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
   you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
   or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because God will be right there with you;
   he’ll keep you safe and sound.

Practical ways to improve quality of sleep

The strategies below may appear simple, but they work! Try them for a week and notice if there is a difference:

• Go to bed and get up at the same time, as this is important to circadian rhythms.
• Darken our environment early in evening to release melatonin.
• Avoid stimulating activity within two hours of bed, except sex – it is a tranquilizer!
• Do not use alcohol as a sedative, as the brain becomes restlessness later.
• Avoid caffeine after 2p.m. in the day.
• Exercise in late afternoon to burn off surplus adrenaline.
• Use ear plugs or white noise to avoid variations in sound.
• Do not eat a big meal too close to bedtime, as a large meal sends more blood to our digestive tract, our stomach secretes more gastric acid, our pancreas becomes more active and produces digestive enzymes and the smooth muscles around the intestines become active. Thus, it is difficult to relax after a large meal. Also, our digestive tracts are designed to work best when we are standing, as lying down does not allow gravity to help food digest.
• Try a tryptophan snack like bananas, milk, dairy products, and meats (especially turkey). Tryptophan works better with carbohydrates, so have a piece of toast with the snack. Protein takes a long time to digest, so refrain from protein before sleep.
• Avoid all sleeping medications as they disrupt normal sleeping patterns.
• Increase humor and laughter in life, the Bible says it is like a good “medicine”.
• Maintain an optimistic outlook, as it is an antidote for stress. Optimism can be learned (Seligman, 2006).
• Ask God to give you a kingdom purpose in life.
• Practice Christian meditation.
• Research clearly shows that meditation is a powerful natural tranquilizer. Christian meditation is an ancient practice this is more relevant today than ever.

Closing Thoughts…
 
The greatest ammunition against worry and anxiety is to worry about nothing and pray about everything with gratitude. This can bring us closer to God in whom we can relax in peace and rest. Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG) counsels:

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life

My journey has been long, but the continual surrender of my control over to God’s control is sweet. Jeremiah 17:7-8 eloquently expresses the fruit of this kind of surrender:

But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
    the woman who sticks with God.
They’re like trees replanted in Eden,
    putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
    never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
    bearing fresh fruit every season.

These days, before I even get dressed, I surrender my day to God. The Holy Spirit meets me wherever I am. His name in Greek means “Helper” or someone called to walk beside and help. He promises He will never abandon me. I cannot manage my day without Him. 

A Declaration…
 
I declare that the stronghold of worry and anxiety is broken. I choose by prayer and petition with gratitude, to cast all my care on Jesus, who will keep me in perfect peace. I refuse to carry the weight of worry, fear and anxiety and I refuse to agree with the lies of the enemy. I choose to stand on the Word of God. I declare that the peace of God stands guard over my mind and heart and He keeps me safe. The Lord is the stronghold of my life, and He loves me with a relentless love. I am never alone, because God promises to be with me wherever I go. I will be still, and let God fight for me.
 
A Prayer…
 
Spirit of worry and anxiety, I bind you in the powerful name and authority of Jesus and by the power of His shed blood on the cross. I command you to lose your hold on me this moment and leave now. I cast you out of my life. Never again will I listen to your voice of worry or anxiety and cower before you any longer. From now on, worry and anxiety have no place in my life. I choose faith in God and His Word over worry. I choose faith in God and His Word over fear. I choose faith in God and His Word over anxiety. Jesus, please forgive me for listening to the voice of the enemy instead of Your voice. Heal me and close the entry points that the enemy has used to gain access to my life. Jesus, please bring Your peace and replace my worry and anxiety with love, power and a sound mind. Hide me in the secret place of the Most High God, under the shadow of the Almighty. Deliver me, be my refuge and my fortress, and help me to trust You in all things. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

* Names and story details are changed to protect those involved.

Reflections…

• When I think of anxiety, what comes to mind is…

 

• If it were a colour, it would be… 

 

• If I could taste it, it would taste like… 

 

• If I could smell it, it would smell like… 

 

• If I could touch it, it would feel like…

 

• If I were to locate it in my body it would be…

 

• If I no longer struggled with anxiety, the ways I imagine my life might be different are…
  

 

   

Source: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Free-Gratitude-Poster-for-Social-Emotional-Learning-5045400

About the author: Dr. Paula Davis is a clinical counsellor, supervisor and educator specialising in psychological trauma. She has worked in higher education over many years as senior lecturer in counselling. Along with her husband she designs and delivers marriage enrichment/education programs in Australia, Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Europe.

References
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Biblehub.com. (2015). Philippians 4:5 [online]. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/philippians/4-5.htm
Brandreth, G. (Ed.). (2013). Oxford dictionary of humorous quotations (5th ed.). UK: Oxford University Press.
Brentnall, J. M. (2005). John Calvin and anxiety. Banner of Truth. Retrieved from https://banneroftruth.org/uk/resources/articles/2005/john-calvin-and-anxiety/
Brother Lawrence, (2017). The practice of the presence of God. USA: Leyland Edwards.
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Harper, S. (2004). Poems to live by. Retrieved from http://www.stevenkharper.com/igoamongtrees.html
Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (2003). Theological wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Publishers.
Jesuit Institute. (n.d.). The Examin. Retrieved from http://jesuitinstitute.org/Pages/Examen.htm
Kini, P., Wong, J., McInnis, S., Gabana, N., & Brown, J. W. (2016). The effects of gratitude expression on neural activity. NeuroImage, 128, 1-10, doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.12.040.
McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J. A. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 112-127.
“rejoice.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rejoice
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Seligman, M. E. P., Rashid, T., & Parks, A. C. (2006). Positive psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 61(8), 774–788. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.8.774
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St. Ignatius Loyola. (2007). The spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. New York: Cosimo Classics.
Stack Exchange. (2019). In Philippians 4:5, what does Paul mean by “the Lord is at hand”? Biblical Hermeneutics. Retrieved fromhttps://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/38428/in-philippians-45-what-does-paul-mean-by-the-lord-is-at-hand
Wiesel, E. (n.d.). Famous quotes at BrainyQuote. Retrieved from https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/elie_wiesel_599768
Wood, A. M., Maltby, J., Gillett, R., Linley, P. A., & Joseph, S. (2008). The role of gratitude in the development of social support, stress, and depression: Two longitudinal studies. Journal of Research in Personality, 42, 854-871.
Wright, V. H. (2017). Consolation and desolation. Retrieved from https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/25557/consolation-and-desolation-2