Chasing the Blues Away

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV). Everyone experiences those times when stress builds up and causes some degree of depression. It is those times when we need to find that narrow gate and chase the blues away! Jesus wants all of us to experience abundant life. Sometimes all you need is a little conversation, with a friend or even alone, to make a stressful day seem far away. With a worry-free mind you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Here are some practical suggestions: 1. First, call a friend. After a long day of working, thinking, or battling against all odds, your mind and body have taken quite a beating. It feels like you could just slump into the couch and never move again. Well, the bad news is you have to move again but not very far. Just far enough to reach the phone. Don’t be tempted to just wait for someone to call you. Call them. Call up a close friend, preferably someone who is good at listening and talk out your stressful circumstances. You have to have the right phone companion for this to work. Some people don't especially enjoy hearing about other people's problems. Complaining isn't the key to a stress-free life, but talking things out with a good friend is good advice to follow. 2. Second, write a letter. If no one is home or the phone is too far out of reach, write a letter. The idea is to get your thoughts out on paper so your mind can rest and you can put some concrete words behind your foggy worries. Once your letter is complete, the job will have been done. I have known many people who write letters that they never send. The act of writing the letter is enough for them to turn their stress into peace of mind. 3. Third, write in a journal. If you find that writing letters you never send works well for you, try writing in a journal. This is a quick and easy way to get your thoughts out into the open. Many times once you see what you have been stressed about written down, it doesn't seem as important. Stress has an unfair advantage. It’s like wrestling with a pig…you both get all dirty and the pig likes it. The wonder of the life that Jesus offers to us is that we no longer need to wrestle with that pig! There is now a choice to make. Before we had the presence of Christ living within us, we were powerless against the enemy. Now, we have all that we need to walk the narrow road to life. Which road are you on today? Maybe you need to chase your blues away. Try these practical suggestions, liberally applied with prayer and faith in Christ. It will make a difference!