Healing, Anxiety and A Merry Heart

Part 1

When we were growing up in a small town in Illinois, my parents received the Reader’s Digest in the mail every so often.  It was a treat to read the condensed articles of heroic rescues, adventure and, of course, the humor.  The ones I remember were called, “Laughter is the Best Medicine”, “Humor in Uniform” and “Life in These United States.”

Whatever they were called, they breathed a breath of life into the seemingly boring and long days of a young guy in small town USA.

I haven’t thought too much about it, but recently I heard someone talk about a merry heart and how good it is for us.

Proverbs 17:22 KJV

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Here it is, the truth that a merry heart is compared to the good that can come from medicine.  So, hey maybe we can be more tolerant when medical assistance and/or help in some way or another is needed and not feel guilty or judgmental of others as if we or they are failing to believe God. 

Here are some other translations of that same verse:

Proverbs 17:22 CEV

If you are cheerful, you feel good; if you are sad, you hurt all over.

Proverbs 17:22 ERV

Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.

Proverbs 17:22 AMP

A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

As the years have gone by, I must admit, there have been periods of time that have gone by that were, shall we say, humorless?  I was distracted by life and its burdens and forgot the power of a merry heart. As a result, I let anxiety and other things rule more than God’s supernatural peace.

How important it is then that in each and in every circumstance and situation we face, peace is needed?  When peace is gone it becomes very difficult to hear God and the GIANT of discouragement can come in quickly. It is important for us to realize that God cares about each and every detail of our lives, no matter how big or small.  We must learn to let go of the ownership of our problems and learn to give them over to God.  He is SO MUCH better at handling and resolving these things than we are.  Maybe you have realized that too?

I feel that too many times I did not let go of the anxieties and thoughts and circumstances that burdened my heart and as a result I too became overwhelmed with the pressure of trying to resolve issues.  Not that it is always easy, but there are solutions.  One of my favorite scriptures of all time is in Philippians.

Philippians 4:6-8

New International Version

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Seriously? Not to be anxious about one single, solitary thing? Well, that is what it says and that sounds like a really good thing. 

Anxiety, worry and stress can have a debilitating effect on our health.  You might say that anxiety and worry are GIANTS that must be dealt with in order to live a peaceful life.

How do we slay these GIANTS that seemingly want to control us and eat us alive? Many a sleepless night can be attributed to these attacks and if not kept in check will run rampant in a person’s life, many times bringing results that are negative.

Which sounds better? Anxiety or peace?  I know it’s a bit of a rhetorical question, but it still begs to be asked.  We need to be able to implement practical and life changing steps so we can get rid of anxiety and worry.

And I know that a merry heart is certainly one step in that direction.

Proverbs 17:22 ERV

Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.

SO….Here are a few excerpts from Reader’s Digest I trust will put a smile on your face.

Witty little knitter

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the highway. Looking at the car, he was astounded to see that the elderly woman behind the wheel was knitting.

The trooper cranked down his window and yelled to the driver, “Pull over!”

“No!” the woman yelled back, “Cardigan!” 

Time is relative

A turtle is crossing the road when he’s mugged by two snails. When the police show up, they ask him what happened. The shaken turtle replies, “I don’t know. It all happened so fast.”

Teacher’s pest

Math teacher: If I have three bottles in one hand and two in the other hand, what do I have?
Student: A drinking problem. 

Generation gap

A mom texts, “Hi! Son, what do IDK, LY and TTYL mean?” He texts back, “I don’t know, love you and talk to you later.” The mom replies, “It’s OK, don’t worry about it. I’ll ask your sister. Love you too.” 

And finally…

No one can pray and worry at the same time.

– Max Lucado