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A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22 NLT
A cheerfulness not based on our situation but on simply trusting that God is in charge of our lives is a prescription that can only be filled by heaven’s chief pharmacist. Don’t forget that it is also a prescription that needs to be refilled every morning!
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25 NKJV
My Grandfather’s words “It’s not what you know but who you know that counts.” reflected his experience navigating a naval career during consider that prayer offers us the opportunity to put in a good word for someone going through a tough time?WW2. That holds as true today as much as at the War Department in the 1940’s; because having just the right person put in a good word still makes all the difference.
When people tell us about their problems our natural tendency is to try to cheer them up based on “what we know”. We say not so smart things like “It can’t be that bad!” because based on our experience their situation seems okay. But we are missing the unique opportunity that God gives us through prayer to put in a good word with the only one who can really make a difference. Of course we should still offer encouraging words when we see those closest to us in the pits and depressed. But “who we know” will trump what we know, every time in the long run. Only God can ultimately make a heart glad. Only He can put a smile on a face that will light up a life again!
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
A faith test is one of those tests I really want to pass but don’t so much like to prepare for. I far prefer floating quietly on my back in the pool on sunny days; to long sleepless nights when recovering from surgery. But on those painful nights when I am crying out to God and desperately need His help I find a faith that sees in darkness the joy of restoration and trust. I hate those storms while they are rocking my boat but I love the assurance I have found. Jesus is my anchor and He will keep me safe to me to the end!
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