Someone has said, “One of the most paralyzing problems in all of life is fear.”  Our fears are directed in many areas:  Fear of sickness, disease, and death.  These fears have all been experienced throughout this coronavirus pandemic.  The fear of rejection, being criticized, and the fear of the unknown.  We still don’t know the end results of this pandemic, but I share the positive attitude of many, “We will get through this together.”

Maybe you have been suffering with a low-grade depression, or feelings of inner turmoil, even despair through all of this.  There are many circumstances such as I have mentioned that will come along to steal our joy-happiness-joyfulness if we let them.  When we allow the negative things to crush our spirit it also takes away our positive attitude.  So many things can happen in the course of a day to crush our spirit, but we don’t have to allow them to send our spirit into a downward spiral.  We can choose our focus, such as:  I avoid being distracted by agendas; I will stay true to my values and purpose; I will let my dominant thoughts each day be those that contribute to my personal goals.

Being joyful-happy-cheerful in a healthy way is based on one’s personal beliefs and values.  It is essential that a person find meaning and purpose in life and live it with a regular experience of gratitude.  “Being very careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity . . . always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (Eph. 15, 16, & 20)  Our salvation experience in Christ Jesus is the beginning of a never-ending relationship with Him.  An individual who is effective and successful in their self-image and identity keeps growing spiritually, keeps learning from His Word (the Bible), and becoming more spiritually mature and a better person.  When spiritual growth becomes a dominant theme in your life, your effectiveness in your relationship with others will exceed your highest expectations.

New attitudes will emerge based on loving and inspiring others to grow and achieve a better relationship with our Lord and with others.  As you reach higher and higher levels of spiritual growth, you will discover that your whole focus of life will not be on “self” but on God.  An Old Testament character by the name of Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”  And, He wants to be the strength of all of us as we continue through this pandemic.  As you turn to Him for strength the types of questions you will begin to ask yourself will change and you will focus on love, compassion and giving, and how can I be useful in this situation to help.  Abundance of good will become your theme, motivating and inspiring you throughout each day.  You will learn that life, as a growing relationship with the Lord, is good and the possibilities keep expanding and getting better.  Learn to practice what the apostle Paul instructed, “. . . Whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  (Phil. 4:8)

Choose today to be cheerful in heart.  Tell yourself that you will not let negative situations crush you.  You can have a good attitude, focused on all the Lord’s blessings, realizing that those “bad circumstances” are not to be a bother.  When Evangelist and founder of the Navigators drowned trying to save another person swimming in the ocean, as they told Dawson’s wife of his drowning her first response was, “Our God is in the Heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”  (Psalm 115:3)