Discovering Gratitude: The Antidote to Anxiety and Depression

I attended a conference a few weeks ago with a guy named Brant Hanson. He wrote a book called Unoffendable. He talked about being a peacemaker and what that means, addressing anger and anxiety. He then shared a powerful insight: 
You can't be a peacemaker if you're not at peace with yourself. 
His antidote for anxiety and depression is simply gratitude.
Gratitude is more than just a polite gesture of saying thank you. It's an essential aspect of mental health that can affect our overall well-being. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety while improving sleep quality, self-esteem, and overall happiness. When we express gratitude, our brains release dopamine and serotonin, important neurotransmitters that regulate our moods and emotions, helping us feel happier, more content, and less stressed.

The Power of Gratitude
Even thinking about how we are so inclined as human beings towards anxiety—especially as we get older and the world changes—knowing that the antidote is simply being grateful and recognizing the good things in our lives is profound.
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This morning, I was sitting on my patio of my modest, small house with a couple of old cars, and I realized I have safety and health. Many people in the world don't have a house. There are people I work with at the shelter who don't have an address. We often take for granted that we have food in the refrigerator and safety in our homes.
For those of us who follow Jesus, Scripture has emphasized gratitude for years. For example:

• 1 Timothy 4:4: "For everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."
• Psalm 136:1: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever."
• Colossians 3:15-17: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

These verses remind us that we can't have anxiety and gratitude in the same brain pattern. When we are grateful and expressing gratitude, it's hard to be anxious, stressed, or depressed.

Living a Grateful Life
Running a nonprofit and taking care of women and kids isn't easy, just like many of your jobs. But it takes people. Our carriage house is full tonight, which is rare for the summer, but I'm grateful. I'm grateful for the goodness of God and for all of you who help us. We wouldn't be here without our donors, friends, community, volunteers, and those who bring us essentials and offer encouraging words.

This morning, I find myself very grateful. Spending time with an old friend that I haven't seen in years reminded me that with God, there are no chance meetings. Everything is ordered and orchestrated by a good God.
As I close, let's all practice being grateful. Gratitude and anxiety cannot coexist. If you're a follower of Jesus, continually be grateful for God who offers grace and mercy daily, taking us out of darkness and into the light. We have so many things to be thankful for.

God bless you guys. Have a great day and a great rest of your week.