When the Dog Bites and the Bee Stings

In the movie, The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews sings the song, “My Favorite Things” to the Von Trapp children to get their minds off a thunderstorm. The song lists several cute and catchy things that are better to think about than being afraid of a storm. Even though thinking about brown paper packages tied up with string won’t get me out of the doldrums, the premise of the song is true. Thinking changes everything.

The Bible says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

Depression comes when our thinking is focused on what is wrong instead of what the answer is. Situations may be bad, but continuously focusing on the problem causes it to appear even worse.

Scientific tests have shown that negative thinking causes chemical secretions in our brain that actually produce depression and hopelessness.[1]  These feelings rush people to the doctor for a pill to alleviate the depression which can cause other side effects in the body. All these medications do is treat symptoms and even cause addictions in some cases which make matters worse. The root cause is not addressed.

Minds need to be renewed by the Word of God. No matter what circumstances we are facing, God has an answer. He is bigger than any problem, but we have to tap into His power. He gave us His Word as the key to the treasures of heaven.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

Peace in our soul comes from thinking God’s way. So when the dog bites, or the bee stings, or nothing is going your way, what do you do?

Share your thoughts.

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[1] See “Who Switched Off My Brain?” by Dr. Caroline Leaf