Romans 12:18:
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Advent is a time of waiting, anticipating the coming of the Prince of Peace. And even in this season, one of the most common barriers to peace is anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five American adults experiences some form of anxiety disorder each year. This means that many of the people we see in our daily lives; our neighbors, coworkers, and friends, may well be carrying burdens we are unaware of.
The effects of anxiety vary widely, but one experience seems nearly universal: anxiety isolates us. It pulls our attention inward, fills our minds with frantic noise, and makes us feel cut off from the people right in front of us. It convinces us that we are alone even when we are not. Advent reminds us however, that God enters our anxious waiting with the promise of Emmanuel.
Proverbs 12:25 reminds us of the power a small act of kindness can have for those who suffer from anxiety: “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Most of us can remember a time when someone encouraged us when we really needed it. At times, these words of encouragement can become a lifeline that keeps us from giving up. While a kind word might feel insignificant, Proverbs tells us that it can lift someone who is weighed down by anxiety.
Today, let us remember that some of the people we see around are carrying hidden burdens. Let us follow the wisdom of proverbs and take a moment to intentionally notice those around us; give a word of affirmation; send a kind text; call someone who has been on your mind. Trust that the Lord who has come near to us as Emmanuel will use and multiply our small offerings of encouragement, turning them into signs of his nearness and helping us all to remember when we need it most, that we are never alone.