Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Did you know that God’s wisdom about a cheerful heart being “good medicine” has actually been proven true in the medical world? For example, “One recent study polled healthy first-year law students at the beginning of the school year to find out how optimistic they felt about the upcoming year. By the middle of the first semester, the students who had been confident that they would do well had more and better functioning immune cells than the worried students.
Some researchers think that pessimism may stress you out, too, boosting levels of destructive “stress hormones” in your bloodstream. Of course, it’s also possible that having a positive attitude toward life makes you more likely to take better care of yourself. And you’re more likely to attract people into your life (and keep them there) — which in and of itself may boost your health” (Jane Framingham, Ph.D.).
Though we are not able to control how people treat us or choose what happens to us in life; we are able to decide whether we live with a cheerful heart or a crushed spirit. Even if our spirits do get crushed in life, Jesus said we don’t have to let it stay that way, He will always heal our broken heart (Isaiah 61:1).
God promised in Isaiah 61:3 that Jesus would, “Provide for those who grieve in Zion… bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Jesus came to turn your frown upside down. Your heart might have been broken, but Jesus came to heal all the broken pieces. You may not feel cheerful now, but God is growing the fruit of joy in you. He is going to make you a living testimony of His goodness. Even right now, if you’re in the midst of your biggest battle, Jesus, your Good Shepherd, has put a table before you in the presence of your enemies. He is over flowing your cup with His blessings and He promises that His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
Decide to have a cheerful heart and good attitude by finding your joy in God. Rejoice in the Lord and thank Him for all that He has done for you (Philippians 4:4). Don’t tell God how big your problems are; tell your problems how big your God is. Repeat this out loud with me, “I have the joy of the Lord down deep in my soul and it’s running over into every part of my life.”
Reflection
Action
- If you have a crushed spirit ask God to give you the spirit of joy.
- Guard your heart from the sorrows of this life.
- In times of trouble find your joy in God and His love for you!
