Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25, NKJV
As I type this verse, I instantly think of all the different statistics and articles written stating that those who struggle with anxiety have a greater chance of becoming depressed. I could fill this page with statistics and scientific reasoning as to why this is true, but today I am going to refrain from doing such things. This isn’t about statistics or scientific fact, but about the word of God.
God thought it was so important that we understand the consequences of Anxiety that he directed Solomon, the author of Proverbs to include a verse specifically about this.
An anxious heat weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25, NIV (Tweet This).
God doesn’t simply tell us the result but also includes a solution to get past it. A kind word cheers him up… as I sit and meditate on this verse, I cannot help but think of a time recently that a friend was truly anxious. She was eight hours away and there was no way for me to be with her. I couldn’t hug her and tell her everything would be okay, because at that moment I didn’t know. But what I did do was text her. I sent her the only thing I could say for sure.
The only thing I knew true in that moment was that I could pray. That simple gesture was the only kind word that I could send at that moment. That kind word was enough to change the nature of the conversation from the anxious nature that it was in.
Sure, that probably didn’t remove all the anxiety of that day, but it was a step in the right direction.
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. Proverbs 12:25, KJV
For the anxious heart: Take a moment today, and think of something positive. Surround yourself with something or someone in good spirits.
For the rest of you: Go out of your way today and show others happiness, joy, peace and be encouraging to those around you. Be the reason that somebody is no longer anxious.
Love,
Nichole
Defying Shadows 