First a tree fell on her house. Next when the plumber was fixing the bathroom that had been messed up by the fallen tree and he failed to hook up the toilet correctly so the basement flooded. Then last week the air conditioner at her business caught on fire. How much stress can one person take?
Knowing all she'd been through I didn't expect her to be smiling. "Are you alright?", I asked. I was surprised by her positive attitude. When she told me about the things that had happen she told it all from a perspective of God's protection and provision. As I listened I thought about Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine.
The other part of the verse says,"but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." My friend could have responded either way. Her cheerful heart was a result of her relationship with a Sovereign God.When someone carries a burden to heavy for them they are crushed.
The crushing load began in the garden when Satan introduced the idea that man needed to be his own god. Satan told Eve that she couldn't really trust God to have her best interest's at heart. In Isaiah nine we have the remedy. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
We have been given a Savior and the government of our lives is on His shoulders to understand this is to have a cheerful heart to understand this is to be governed by the Prince of Peace.
Sarah yes! You really helped me understand that phrase, "and the government shall be upon his shoulder". HE'S King. We're not supposed to carry that weight. Thank you. -Hannah Matthews
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