September 5, 2018

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22

You don’t have to live very long to understand how your joyfulness or your broken heartedness can affect your entire body. In fact, I’ve learned through my recent injury and recovery that your attitude can actually affect the physical healing process. A broken spirit makes us waste away, but a joyful spirit is literally good medicine. The problem, though, is that when we need a joyful spirit the most, as we are in the midst of sickness and trial, it is often hard to come by. However, I’m sure you’ve seen those who can be discouraged by the smallest set back and those who can stay joyful even in the most difficult circumstances. So if our attitude is not set by our situation, but instead is meant to overcome it, then where does this joyful attitude come from?

We can be joyful in the midst of difficult times, because we know those times are not pointless, and we know that our Heavenly Father has not left us or forgotten about us. On the contrary, in the midst of these times He is deeply intimate with us and working on our hearts in a special way. We have abundant promises in Scripture testifying to this fact:

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” – James 1:2-3

“He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?” – Romans 8:32

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ! (Romans 8:39)

So don’t let a broken spirit defeat you in your trials. Cling to the promises of God, and allow that to bring you healing joy in the midst of difficult times.

Father, through the truth of Your promises, we ask that You bring us a peace and joy that overcomes our circumstances.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon