Scientists have discovered that helplessness will negatively impact a person's health and that optimists are better able to cope with distress in their lives. In fact, scientists at UCLA claim that optimists have more T cells to fight disease with than their pessimistic counterparts.

A new study suggests that optimists live longer than pessimists do. The study of almost 100,000 women found that optimists—women who expected that good things, not bad, would happen—were 30% less likely to die of heart disease during the course of the study than pessimists. Trusting women were 23% less like to die of cancer than the cynically hostile.

--USA Today, March 12, 2009, p. 6d. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

God calls us to live lives trusting and believing him. Since his love is strong for us, we can count on all that happens to be part of his plan. The bad may happen, but God is still working for our good.

Philippians 4:6 (TLB) “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers.”

A new study concludes regular attendance at religious services is associated with a more optimistic outlook and a lower likelihood of suffering from depression. The new results support other findings suggesting participation in religious worship and activities promotes psychological and physical health. Researchers claim those who are involved in such practices reduces mortality risks, calms people in stressful times, creating positive social interaction, and helping curtail bad habits. The new findings said people who said they attended religious services more than once each week were 56 percent more likely to maintain an optimistic outlook, than those who did not.

Those who reported attending services weekly were 22 percent less likely to be depressed or have symptoms of depression. Researchers say they are still trying to understand all of the factors behind the results. They note religious practice in general tends to promote a more positive viewpoint, and a healthier lifestyle. Eliezer Schnall, an associate professor of clinical psychology at Yeshiva University in New York said the research might only indicate a correlation, between the practices, but not necessarily causality. Schnall said, “The person who says, ‘I guess if I go to services, that will make me more optimistic’ – while a possibility, that may not be true.” He added, “One could argue people who are more optimistic may be drawn to religious services.”

--Study links religious services to optimism, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/10/us-usa-religion-health-idUSTRE7A966K20111110 ; November 10, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Galatians 5:22-25 (CEV) “God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, (23) gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. (24) And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. (25) God's Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.”

In, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, Malcolm Gladwell writes, “There’s no possibility of being pessimistic when people are dependent on you for their only optimism.” —Jim L. Wilson

Psalm 71:5 (NKJV) “For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth.”