Biblical principles sneak up everywhere to me: usually it’s literature, but today, it’s contemporary psychology.
From Australian psychologist Lea Waters’ talk on positive psychology.
There are various negative psychological states that characterise mental illness:
Depression
Anxiety
Insecurity
Addiction
Violence
When psychologists try to help people in such states, should they focus on the burden or the blessing? (Dealing with the negative state or encouraging positive attitudes.) Waters’ answer is BOTH.
Positive Psychology:
Hope
Optimism
Resilience
Gratitude
Perseverance
Empathy
She calls these attitudes “an armour against life’s challenges.”
Excuse me while I mentally connect each one to a facet of Christianity: Hope in God’s Plan, Trusting in God’s Goodness (through anything), Expecting and Undergoing Trials and Tribulations, Giving Thanks to God, Persevering in Obedience and Resisting Sin, Compassion. And are we not told to put on the armour of God? The assurance that if God is for us, none can be against us – not even the dark forces of hell.
Furthermore, that question of whether we focus on the burden or the blessing, and the answer being, “both.” When we recognise the burden of our complete depravity (sinfulness) AND the blessing of God’s complete goodness and sacrifice for our sakes we are much closer to the untouchable armour that is the joy of grace accepted.
Modern psychology just corroborated the truth of the gospel and Christian living.
Her talk is here:
R::OOM to think 