“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
Lately I’ve been thinking about what it means to be content. Paul tells us he has learned to be content in every situation. Does that mean we just accept whatever comes our way and never try to change it? If we’re in an unhealthy relationship, do we just accept that as our lot? Or what if we’re struggling to make ends meet? Do we look for a better paying job or a second job? Or do we just accept this as the way it is? And what does it mean to be content, anyway? Does it mean to grin and bear it? To clench our teeth and muscle our way through the situation? Or lay back and allow ourselves to be doormats to whatever situation we’re dealing with? If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, you’re not alone. I have, too. So I started looking for verses that talk about contentment and this verse out of Proverbs was one listed as being a “contentment” verse. How can that be when the word doesn’t even appear in the verse?
The first thing we realize is that this is talking to people who are dealing with a sickness of some kind. After all, if there isn’t a sickness there would be no need for medicine. Maybe it’s a physical illness, or maybe it’s some other kind of disease. Maybe it’s an unhealthy relationship, or some other situation we’re dealing with that just isn’t right. Regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, the way to heal our sick soul is cheerfulness. Really?! When you’re in a situation like that, how in the word can you be cheerful? Other words that could be used for cheerful are rejoicing, gladness, or delight. I remember seeing a forecast that said the weather was going to be “delightful.” I thoroughly enjoyed that and on a nice spring day I’ll think of how delightful the weather is. But what if it’s raining cats and dogs? How can my heart be cheerful or delightful in the midst of the storm? It is certainly more difficult then, but if we can keep our eyes on the One who’s walking us through the storm, we will be able to take great delight in Him even as the wind and waves whip all around us.
It’s when we take our eyes off God that the circumstances around us begin to crush us. The interesting thing is that there’s more than one Hebrew word for “bones.” The one used here doesn’t mean actual skeletal bones. It means the person is rawboned, or bony. There’s not much too them. A strong wind could blow them away. And that’s exactly what may happen. What this verse is saying is that without God, the little health we have will be taken from us when we face a storm. The New Living Translation says, “a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” So what does any of this have to do with contentment? I think it’s all about our focus. If we’re focusing on God, we’re not seeing the problem around us. At best, we’re seeing God whip that problem. But even if the situation doesn’t change, we do. We’ll be able to experience God’s grace, strength, love and victory. In the parts of our lives where our strength was draining away, we’re now experiencing the rejuvenation that only a close walk with Jesus can bring. I’m not saying that it will make me want the storm to last forever. But staying focused on Him will make it okay to be in the midst of the storm. I’ll no longer fear the wind and waves if I’m walking on top of them with Jesus. And my strength won’t flow out when His strength is pouring in. With Jesus, I’ll be able to look at the storm and say, “What a delightful day! It’s delightful because Jesus is in it with me.”