The prevalent landscape color was khaki-gray. Dust was everywhere, all the time, inside buildings and out, no matter how much cleaning took place. Air pollution resulted from diesel vehicles, unrestricted burning of trash and tires, open sewers, and garbage heaps baking in the sun piled beside the dumpster (seekers of recyclable-sellable materials constantly sorted through the interior collection, sending rejections to the outside). 

Not to mention the darkness of Islam and superstition practices that clouded the lives of Afghans. Add to the list decades of war, drought, poverty, disease, and oppressive, backward Taliban government. How could anyone flourish in such an environment? 

In truth, people can become depressed, anxious, hopeless, discontent, and unhealthy anywhere in the world. It doesn’t come from our external circumstances as much as our internal determinations and practices. 

Philippians is my go-to book for working with counseling or coaching clients or even friends and family, and especially myself! So many great directives on how to live well, how to thrive and flourish no matter what is happening around us or even to us.  

Chapter 4:6-7 tells us that prayer is a mighty weapon. When we spend time communicating our concerns to God, really laying ourselves open to who He is, the love and power He gives us, our petitions don’t become meaningless, but we release the burden of it all. We lean into His steady, faithful character, lift our heads, and look for His answers in the time ahead.\ 

The next two verses explain how to set our thinking, which guides feelings and actions. Think on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. This action is so doable, but takes intention and constant practice, again, looking for God and evidence of His work around us. 

Prayer and purposeful thinking give us much power to flourish, anywhere, anytime.