Emotional Pea Soup
Proverbs 17:22 Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.
Most of us want to leave some legacy behind in the lives of others, our children, our children’s children, our friends, even to the world at large, through the way we live our lives. The planet is packed with people in search of significance; people who want to live the sort of life that leaves a lasting legacy of love.
The problem is, they themselves are drowning in a pea soup of negative emotions. Have you ever felt that? There are all sorts of emotions that rob us of living the life that God wants us to live, the life that’ll have a real impact … the sort that will leave a lasting legacy of love.
Bitterness, anger, disappointment, fear, low self esteem, envy, lust, cynicism, bad body image, pride, unfaithfulness, dishonesty, greed, regret, guilt, shame, being money hungry, hate, prejudice, judgement, self-pity, worry, self-loathing, jealousy, possessiveness, being untrusting, being unable to share, unable to delegate, unable to open up, fear of being vulnerable, inability to love … you’ve got it, right?
That’s quite an emotional pea soup. And way too many people live in it. Maybe you even relate to one or two of those yourself. I want to share a piece of godly wisdom with you today. It’s so simple, yet so profound.
Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease. (Proverbs 17:22)
That word there, “happiness”, the original Hebrew word actually refers to something quite a bit deeper. It talks about a heart that’s filled with joy. A joyful heart is good medicine.
But honestly, how can you have a joyful heart when life isn’t going along the way you’d hoped? Here’s the answer. Look at all the good things that God has already done for you. Look at all the good things that God has already given you.
Every morning when I get up out of bed and sit down in my favourite chair, with my coffee and my Bible, I thank God for Jesus. I thank God for the chair I’m sitting in, the roof over my head, the coffee cup in my hand. Salvation, safety, security … in Jesus.
And you know what happens when we worship God like that? He gives us a thankful heart. He fills our hearts to overflowing with joy and that my friend, is very good medicine.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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