
Ask Dr. B: Surviving A Friend’s Betrayal
In today’s Ask Dr. B column, a reader asks how to survive a friend’s betrayal. Read more to see how Dr. Bengtson responded.
In today’s Ask Dr. B column, a reader asks how to survive a friend’s betrayal. Read more to see how Dr. Bengtson responded.
In the hard times of life, the presence, the word, the encouragement of just one friend can make all the difference. What about when you don’t have that one?
When someone is depressed, they have a choice to make: to either let depression define them or to desire joy bad enough to seek after it with obedience and sacrifice. Jesus offered us the same joy he had; the fullest possible joy. What I’ve learned is that thanksgiving and gratitude is the doorway to joy. As Proverbs tells us, we are what we think in our heart. As we become increasingly grateful, God exchanges our worries and sorrow with His peace, joy, and abundant life. Our circumstances may not change, but our mindset does.
There are many who are having a hard time experiencing joy this Christmas. Yet, we ave a home, clothes to wear, food to eat, presents to open. That makes us wealthier than most of the people in the world. But what if we didn’t? What if we didn’t have a home, or a bed to sleep in, or clothes to wear? We would be in good company.
The holidays are considered a time of love and good will towards men. While Christmas is a season of giving, the commercialism of the holidays, however, can tend to perpetuate depression when we focus on ourselves.