I receive a daily Medical Newsletter. Not sure how I signed up for it originally, but I often find it interesting. That was the case recently when it referenced a study about old people! Since I qualify as one, it caught my attention. The study was: “Folks Who Cope, Adapt Do Well in Old Age: Study” (The new study was published Sept. 3 in the journal BMJ Mental Health.)
I really zeroed in on one paragraph toward the end of the article. “The findings indicate that having a purpose and remaining optimistic in the face of uncertainty can help a person persevere in circumstances that might otherwise lower life expectancy, researchers concluded.”
One of the things about the principles of God is that they work all the time. They work when applied to all areas of life. They work whether we believe in them or not. As I read that article, I thought about all the Scriptures that tell us about our purpose, how to respond to uncertainty, how to persevere in circumstances … all the things this article found to be true!
Rejoicing/Thanksgiving: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” [Philippians 4:4-9 NLT]
Purpose: “…you who have been called by God to be his own holy people.” [1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT]
Perseverance: “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” [1 Peter 5:10 NLT]
