QT 7/24/2024 Prov 15:13, How do I view life internally?

Proverbs 15:13 (ESV) —

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

 

NOTE: Duane Garret broke this chapter (and part of the next ) up into two similar sections (15:1-17; 15:18-16:8) dealing with the same set of issues. It is very clever, as if, two people drew up their conclusions on the same set of life happenings. For myself, I see a lot of verses focusing on the inner attitude and how it affects the outward responses. Soft answers, a wise tongue, a gentle tongue, willingness to listen to reproof, seeing rightness as a treasure, prayer, openness, listening, etc, are all discussed. The glad heart seems to summarize many of these individual proverbs. How do I view life and my circumstances? Can I rejoice even in my suffering? It is certainly not easy and I would never encourage stoicism. We need to be honest with God, but we don't need to stew over life events, good and bad. A spirit of thankfulness will in time induce a glad heart. And a glad heart will change our countenance, and our countenance will affect those around us for good.

 

PONDER:

1. When life is hard, do I fall into a pity party?
2. Do I honestly go to God and tell him my struggles, worries, and fears?
3. Do I then focus on being thankful because God promises me to bring good out of the pain in life?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a hard balance. You are not looking for robotic stoics who ignore pain and repeat mantras of "God is in charge." I want to be honest with you in my struggles and I want to be thankful for my struggles. It is a tough balance at times and I need your help.