Faith and Spirituality - Perseverance in Our Life’s Journey

Faith is valued as an individually characterized insight that offers meaning to our life circumstances established on beliefs, authentic living and interrelating (Dyess, 2011). 

Having a strong faith can help to alleviate stress. It can also enhance resilience and prevent burnout from doing all of the things that we have to do in our lives (Brockhouse, Msetfi, Cohen, & Joseph, 2011). 

Spirituality can be a protective aspect in the prevention of becoming too burdened with our responsibilities. It can be helpful to individuals to be able to make meaning out of one’s life with spirituality as well. This can especially be helpful in stressful situations in our lives. Spirituality can help to maintain a successful personal life and also in having an overall healthy life and well-being. A specific example to engage with the Lord and to become more spiritual with your walk with God is to go to him in prayer (Brockhouse, et al., 2011).

Praying and having spirituality helps us to have purpose in our lives. It assists us to connect our mind, body, and spirit together. This can help us to feel accepted, loved, and to feel like we are making a meaningful contribution in life. Another way to become more spiritual and to grow closer to the Lord in our personal walk with Him is to meditate (Harrison & Westwood, 2009). 

Sit still a few moments and concentrate on positive and uplifting thoughts. It is also helpful to pick out a scripture verse that you like and meditate on that verse for a few moments to focus on God’s truths and promises.  

Research has demonstrated that there is significance in having spiritual beliefs to enhance our views in life and to help us with cope with the trials and stresses that we can come up against in our lives. Having grounded beliefs about our lives and implementing prayers and faith can attribute to us having healthier relationships with our families, friends, and our relationships in our community (Brockhouse, et al., 2011). 

It is also vital to share and have spiritual and emotional peer support. A great way to obtain support is to attend church and make new friendships there.

Faith is seen as the groundwork that facilitates us to make sense of our world and circumstances. The concept of faith symbolizes a created expression to be; faith is an evolving design of believing that builds and directs authentic living and gives value and meaning in the present time period of inter-relating (Dyess, 2011). 

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Holy Bible, Deuteronomy 31:8)

I hope that if have not already done so, that you invite Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Prayer, meditating on His Word, and gathering and learning with other believers at church can help you in your journey in life to have and maintain optimum mental health. If you would like to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, seek someone who knows Him and then continue to read scripture and learn how to have a daily relationship with Him and spend eternity with Him.

Becoming a Christian is a simple process of accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. The following steps may be helpful to you as you make this wonderful decision.

·         A. Acknowledge that you have a need for Christ in your life. Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and the result of our sinfulness is death - Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death.”

·         B. Believe that Jesus died for you so that your sins might be forgiven. Romans 5:8 “But God shows His love for us, in that while were sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

·         C. Commit yourself to Him by praying and indicating that you desire for His forgiveness of your sin, and you desire for Him to take control of your life.

Romans 10:9-10 - "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Holy Bible)

If you feel an urgency to make a decision after reading these preceding paragraphs, this means the Holy Spirit is working in your heart, drawing you into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you are prepared to make this decision you might offer a simple word to Christ as demonstrated in the following prayer:

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned and I need forgiveness for my sin.

I ask you to forgive me of my sin and to come into my life and become my Lord
and Savoir. I commit my life to you and I ask you for guidance as I begin a new
life as a Christian (Calvary Baptist Church, 2015).

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Holy Bible, Matthew 11: 28-31)

References

-Brockhouse, R., Msetfi, R. M., Cohen, K., Joseph, S., (2011). Vicarious exposure to     trauma and growth in therapists: The moderating effects of sense of coherence, organizational support, and empathy. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(6), 735-742.

-Calvary Baptist Church (2015). Retrieved from: http://www.cbcol.net/

-Dyess, S. M., (2011). Faith: A concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(12), 2723- 2731.

-Harrison, R. L., Westwood, M. J., (2009). Preventing vicarious traumatization of mental health therapists: Identifying protective practices. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46(2), 203-219.

-Holy Bible, New International Version

By Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

                                    Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com