A Merry Heart

Have you ever looked at someone's face and thought "they look like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders." I've even had people say to me "smile, it isn't that bad." What is sad is that I have seen this in children and teens. They are not exempt from anxiety or depression. I just heard an advertisement on the radio the other day offering free consultation and medicine for children ages 9 through 18 who are suffering from anxiety and depression. There can be all kinds of internal and external reasons for this.

We cannot necessarily always judge a person's heart by their face but even the writer of the Proverbs speaks of this truth. Proverbs 15:13 says "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 12: 25 "Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." Proverbs 17: 22 "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." Proverbs 18: 14 "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?" This kind of broken spirit is somewhat different than what the Psalmist says in Psalm 51: 17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit...." This broken spirit is linked to the heart that is contrite because of sin as David was after his adultery with Bathsheba. This broken spirit leads to forgiveness and restoration so that the heart will indeed be merry once again.

The broken spirit spoken of in the Proverbs verses are related to anxiety and depression.
Once again there are all kinds of reasons for anxiety and depression. One may be that a person has not yet come to the place where they know the truly living God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent for the remission of sins. Another may be that while a person has understood this truth to the degree that they know they have eternal life, they still do not understand the love God has for us (you) in Jesus Christ. He tells us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)

There is a link between our health and depression. If our spirit is truly trusting in the Lord and understands His constant love and care for us it can have an effect on our healing when we are struggling with various illnesses. I know a christian woman who has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. They told her chemotherapy is not an option but that she has to have her bladder removed. She is quite frightened. I have spoken with her and prayed with her and I feel her fear. I perhaps would be as frightened upon hearing this news. She was told that rest and being able to think positively and not negatively can have an effect on her. Thinking positively does not necessarily mean that she is to think I can and will beat this but that the Lord is the one who is the great physician and healer and who loves her. If she can find peace in this truth and rest in Him it can sustain her in her illness.

I am sure all of us at some point or another have a countenance that reveals a broken spirit. I hope this is not where you are today but if so read Jesus' words in Matthew 6: 25-34. The Lord cares for us more than we will ever know and what better way has He shown it but by dying on the cross and taking away all of our sin and placing it on Himself.