Scientists have recently started research about how emotions play a part in a person’s health. Emotions have always been ignored as being too subjective for scientists to study. They have discovered that what we think and feel may determine whether one lives or dies. Two aspects, hope and love, are essential to Christian faith.
Hope
Hopeful people see the good in every situation and consider a difficult situation a challenge instead of a threat. Hopeful people see a challenge as a step in the right direction and is more likely to persevere. In the end, hopeful people tend to be more successful because they are more persistent and optimistic about small victories. Instead of falling into a depression every time a tragedy or betrayal strikes them, hopeful people are able to lift themselves out of the ashes and keep their heads high. They are able to find their strength in the Lord and lean on that instead of the opinions of people. Scientists have also seen that people that are hopeless, depressed or anxious are more likely to have heart attacks than hopeful people.
Love
Love is also good for your health. Health researchers have found that people in happy marriages had the lowest rate of depression. People who are happily married also generally live longer than those in unhappy marriages. Whether we like to admit it or not, each of us need to know that we are loved by the people around us. Living without relationships is as harmful to health as high cholesterol or smoking. Love was the basis on which God meant us to build our coexistence on. A little love from your side can really change an entire person’s life. Love is not something that comes and goes while a person is nice to you or when you’re having a good day, but a conscious commitment to support and stick to that person no matter what the circumstances. Love defies anger, contempt, jealousy and hatred. It is stronger than any human force and is a direct command from God. Although we do not always agree with people or even like them terribly much, it is our responsibility as Christians to love everyone around us in order to give the honor and praise to God.
