Proverbs Chapter 17

Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Recently I had a very bad headache. The pain was such that I felt tired, lethargic and even depressed. All I wanted to do was lie down on the couch but that did nothing to relieve the pain. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t concentrate, and I didn’t want to be around other people. Unfortunately, it was coming on to time for practice for the church men’s basketball team, which I had committed to participate in. Like a good team member I went to practice. Amazingly, after running around the court and working up a sweat, the headache went away. I was reminded of something I had read and even experienced before.

During strenuous exercise the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus produce chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals resemble opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a sense of well-being. In other words they act as natural pain relievers. Perhaps you have heard of runners feeling a second wind or "runner’s high" after running for a while. This often helps a well trained runner to push past the point he "thinks" of as his limit. Weight lifters or those who do aerobic exercises also feel this sense of a "rush" at some point in or after their period of exercise.

This is a truth that is captured in the meaning of Proverbs 17:22. Just like exercise produces these natural pain relievers so rejoicing produces "spiritual" endorphins. Rejoicing is GOOD medicine. It’s no accident that David, in the Psalms, tells us over and over again to rejoice. David knew the relieving power of rejoicing in his life. He experienced pain and suffering. When he focused on his troubles, depression set in. There seemed to be no hope. The pain felt unbearable. His broken or crushed spirit literally sucked the life right out of him. But then he experienced the "second wind" or "runner’s high" that came when he chose to rejoice in his circumstances.

When you read through the Psalms you will notice two common characteristics about rejoicing. The context is often directly related to God’s work or God’s character. And it’s mentioned as an imperative. David doesn’t say "Try this, you might like it. It might do you some good". He says "Rejoice in the Lord". This is not to say that in every bad thing that happens in our life we jump up and shout "Hallelujah"! When we react this way it would seem that we are focused on the pain or the thing that caused the pain. When something happens that causes pain to our soul or body we can look at our Mighty God and know that He is working out His plan for our lives. We rejoice not in the "painful thing" but in the God who will see us through the time of pain and sorrow. We rejoice in that we know He has been faithful and will continue to be so in the lives of His people.

So when you experience the pain and suffering that comes with living this life, I encourage you to exercise in rejoicing and allow the spiritual endorphins to ease your pain and give you a sense of well-being. Rejoice in the Lord. It’s GOOD medicine.