How are you doing these days? Can you say you are invigorated to pursue your heart’s desires and rise to the call of God on your life for this season? The world is certainly uncertain, and it would be easy to lose sight of God’s plan or your vision during this time.
Here’s something you might not know: joy and purpose in meaningful work will keep you sane!
Imagine this scenario: the loss of a son, a mentally troubled wife, the weight of a Civil War, and to top it off, it looks like you are losing in the midst of a divided cabinet under the scrutiny of a critical press. Add to this the sinister forces of hell descending upon you night and day to drive you back into a state of depression—a dark hole you dug out of a decade earlier.
This is the reality that President Abraham Lincoln faced.
Lincoln survived the onslaught and conducted his affairs with the wisdom of a sage because of three things:
1. Faithful intercessors: The North had pockets of great revival and believers were on their knees throughout the great Civil War.
2. A strong work ethic: Lincoln threw himself into his work and responsibilities.
3. A lighthearted perspective: Lincoln kept his sense of humor.
The prayers of the people supported Lincoln as well. Lincoln set a precedent for intercession when he issued a proclamation for a national day of fasting and prayer. The proclamation declared:
“Whereas it is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”
In the midst of all this Lincoln kept his sanity largely by refocusing his mind on his life mission. A consistent theme in Lincoln’s life is his deliberate management of mental focus. This was a form of cognitive therapy before the term was invented.
In an 1842 letter from Lincoln to his friend, Joshua Speed, the President offered this word of wisdom:
“I think if I were you, in case my mind were not exactly right, I would avoid being idle. I would immediately engage in some business, or go to making preparations for it.”
More useful and practical advice would be hard to find. Again, the fundamental understanding (contrary to Freudian perspectives) is that the mind turned “outward” to worthy pursuits is likely to shape a more desirable, bearable, and sustainable interior landscape.
An unknown author penned these words about Lincoln:
“There were times when Lincoln’s humor was simply good-natured fun. Sandburg told the story of when a newly elected Congressman came in, and Lincoln, knowing him to have a sense of humor, said ‘Come in here and tell me what you know. It won’t take long.'”
Sandburg and most other Lincoln scholars saw Lincoln’s humor for what it was: a wise and practiced form of diversion. It was a way of keeping his mental and emotional self distanced from the pressure that was his lot during his Presidency.What tools, habits or mindsets have you found helpful during this upheaval in our nation and world? Let’s remind ourselves of the vision the Lord has placed in our hearts and put our energy towards solutions and creativity; we don’t have time to lose focus!
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