Why do optimists live longer? Trusting God when it’s hard to trust God
The Daily Article
The Denison Forum
4.9 • 576 Ratings
🗓️ 11 July 2022
⏱️ 8 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
One study reports that people with the highest levels of optimism enjoyed a life span between 11 and 15 percent longer than those who were the least optimistic. In The Daily Article for July 11, 2022, Dr. Jim Denison shares why we could all use such optimism, relates his disappointment with God after recent back surgery, and concludes with biblical reflections that have helped him have "faith to have faith" during his recovery.
Author: Dr. Jim Denison
Narrator: Chris Elkins
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Today is Monday, July the 11th, 2022. Welcome to the Daily Article podcast. Today's article is written by Dr. Jim Denison and narrated by Chris Elkins of the Denison Forum. Here's some good news. To live longer, focus on good news in the news. A study now being reported by the Washington Post notes that people with the highest levels |
| 0:25.7 | of optimism enjoyed a lifespan between 11 and 15% longer than those who were the least |
| 0:32.7 | optimistic. |
| 0:34.3 | Research links optimism to eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, and being less likely to smoke cigarettes. |
| 0:41.9 | Optimism also tends to manage stress in a healthy way. |
| 0:46.2 | We can use such optimism these days. |
| 0:48.7 | In this news this morning, a California woman was caught on video, dousing a man with gasoline and then setting them on fire. A California woman was caught on video dousing a man with gasoline and then |
| 0:56.4 | setting him on fire. A 15-year-old boy was charged with murder after allegedly stabbing |
| 1:02.2 | a 14-year-old to death on a subway platform in New York City. A wildfire in Yosemite National |
| 1:09.0 | Forest is uncontained at this writing. |
| 1:11.9 | At least 18 were killed after a Russian missile struck an apartment building in eastern Ukraine. |
| 1:19.1 | At least 15 are dead in a mass shooting in South Africa. |
| 1:23.3 | Since studies clearly link religious commitment with a more optimistic outlook, you and I should be especially positioned to benefit from such positivism, even in challenging times. |
| 1:35.6 | But I have learned personally in recent days, trust in God does not guarantee optimism, especially when God does not do what we're trusting him to do. |
| 1:47.4 | I underwent four-level spinal fusion surgery on July 1st. I will be limited in activities |
| 1:54.3 | and mobility for the next several weeks. Full recovery is expected to take nine months to a year. My wife has been beyond amazing |
| 2:04.1 | through all of this. Janet prepared our home in advance, walked with me through the surgery and |
| 2:10.1 | four-day hospitalization, and is caring for me at home with her usual brilliance, humor, and servant-hearted |
| 2:16.4 | generosity. I have seen as never before |
| 2:19.6 | how far I overmarried and am so grateful to her and for her every day. My surgeon did an exemplary |
| 2:28.4 | job with a very complex procedure. The staff at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Plano, Texas, were outstanding. |
| 2:37.3 | Our ministry team has been terrific as well. I'm deeply grateful to Dr. Ryan Denison for writing |
... |
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