p. 11 | WORRY IS A DISEASE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 27, 1904

WORRY IS A DISEASE.

Worry is a disease, so is impatience; but they are curable. The same thing that produces rheumatism or gout, produces worry or impatience. They are due to irritants circulating in the blood. If the poisons formed by improper combinations of food are deposited in the joints, gout is produced, or if deposited in the muscle sheath, they produce rheumatism, or if in the brain, in contact with the sensitive brain cells, they produce depression. The thing to do is to correct the habits of eating and drinking, and thus get rid of the poisons, and worry and impatience will then disappear. The Bible says, "Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience," etc. It then adds, "If you do these things, ye shall never fail." So many of us wish to get rid of impatience or worry without gaining knowledge, without temperance. The Creator points out the causes of worry and impatience, and then calls upon us to gain knowledge. To our knowledge we are to add temperance, and then the other step—patience, will not be very difficult. As long as we try to climb up some other way, we shall be recognized as a thief and a robber. We will not meet with success. But when we enter by the right way, our efforts will be crowned with success. In the endeavor to get rid of rheumatism we recognize that there are certain things we have to do. We go about the thing in an intelligent manner. We must go about the worry disease in the same manner. Most of our ills, whether physical or mental, can be traced to some physical cause. God's ways are ways of pleasantness, and when we come in harmony with the Creator and His laws, we will find that it will not be long before our health shall spring forth speedily, and worrying will cease. It was the mixed multitude who first refused the food prepared by angel hands that was constantly worrying and complaining. Why should we fear or worry? God lives, and works everything after the counsel of His own will and for our good. David said, "Therefore will not we fear, tho the earth be removed, and tho the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." David also says, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." "Before I was afflicted I went astray." God allows afflictions to come to warn us. When we are on the wrong track, it is a mercy to have a red light held up. Perfect health depends upon perfect knowledge, and none of us have perfect knowledge; but we can say we are striving after it; and the one who does that is a perfect man. "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded." We can throw aside a great deal of worry by a little effort. We may also cultivate worry and a feeling of depression. Some people seem really to enjoy their poor health. They talk about it all the time. In this way they dig about, and cultivate this useless and harmful plant. This we should not do. We must talk courage, and faith, and good cheer, "against hope believe in hope," and make a desperate effort to put down every dark feeling. When a little depressed, begin to sing with the little birds. After all, there are many-things to be thankful for. The rosebush is not all thorns. Let us admire the roses which are in the midst of the thorns. "Forget not all His benefits."

"Is thy cruse of comfort failing? Rise, and share it with another; And, through all the years of famine, It shall serve thee and thy brother."

"Give, and it shall be given unto you." This is a divine law. As we give, God imparts. That is the way to receive. Giving is living; denying is dying. If we would each make up our minds to create sunshine for those about us, it would surprise many a poor invalid how much he would gain in health.—Australasian Good Health.