“A cheerful is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength”
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart brings positive benefits to our physical bodies. This means that having a happy heart can be healing to the soul and fuel for the body. Likewise, being depressed and sad for a long period of time can be detrimental to our physical health and strength. On “not so happy” days, we should ask ourselves “Why am I not cheerful? Where has my joy gone? Most of the time, I realize that I have been fretting about circumstances….finances, car troubles, relationship problems, poor health with family members…. all of which may not be happy circumstances. I focus on these things instead of focusing on my relationship with Jesus, the one thing that can be constant and remains positive. Life is not always a feast of pleasant experiences, and we cannot control all the circumstances that will unveil in our daily lives. But we CAN pour our energies into knowing and loving Jesus! Amen? Amen! He is the source of all joy and can fill us with true cheerfulness, hope, and joy.
I came to relearn this recently as I sunk into a slight depression several years ago when my father was struggling with emphysema and having a slow, challenging recovery from his recent open heart surgery. In the course of a week, my spirit began to deflate, my body became weak and my mind started to slip into the sadness of the situation. Everyone was praying for my family but I didn’t even want to. I shut down for a few days and just decided to be angry, sad and scared. After my “time out”, I came back to the Lord and asked for him to fill me again (Matthew 6:33) with his strength and peace.
“Happiness is caused by things that happen around me and circumstances will mar it; but JOY flows right through trouble; Joy flows through the dark….
So, my friends, I encourage you to keep your JOY alive through Christ. Strive for that cheerful heart even amidst unpleasant circumstances….
In His Grip
Tanji
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How long you have know the Lord it wonderful to see that.
I love this post! You are truly a beautiful person and I give an amen to all said especially that our joy is not based on our circumstance! My husband and I have made it through cancer, 2 knee surgeries, shoulder surgery, being told we may never have children, getting pregnant and then miscarrying and so much more. Even in all that, we have so much to be thankful for! I have found Christ to be my unyielding strength through all things! I have found him to be my abundant source of joy!
Thought you might enjoy my site: http://www.sendinghope.wordpress.com
Hope you have a great week!
Traci
Tanji,
This is truly a beautiful article! You are right. I can let circumstances at work realy get my emotions flowing in a negative way due to recent circumstances that have everyone discouraged. My “out” is the future God has in store for me as a contract paralegal. I have had people in my “pocket”, so to speak with offers to assist me after graduation. How coole is that for knowing God is working behind the scenes! However, I have to not be anxious and down about this current stuff at work. I must keep my heart joyful and thank God for EVERY situation as they are all are used as tools to guide me if I let them. Thank you so much for these articles, your strong faith and insspiration!
Hossi