“Patients with coronary heart disease who expect they will do well despite their diagnosis live longer than their pessimistic counterparts, according to a new study published online February 28 in Archives of Internal Medicine.” The survival rate was 30% higher among the optimistic group than the pessimistic group even when other factors such as age, sex, disease severity, other health problems, social support, depressive symptoms, and functional status were considered.

Patients who described themselves as highly optimistic had lower risks of all-cause death, and lower rates of cardiovascular death than those with high levels of pessimism, according to an article in the November 2004 issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry.

No wonder God’s Word admonishes us to, “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalms 31:24) The next time you face uncertainty why not “hope in the Lord” and experience a “strengthen heart.”