“All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast” Proverbs 15:15
I feel like there has been a lot of darkness lately. I’ve encountered death, heartbreak, and illness in these past couple of weeks and it feels pretty far from a continual feast. But this proverb shows us that Jesus doesn’t need perfect conditions to throw a feast. He isn’t a party planner who cancels when something goes wrong. His celebration is continual, never ceasing, and we are all invited.
A feast in biblical times was a time of worship, celebration, and fellowship. It was time to rest from work, gather with the community, and remember what God had done. It was a party! Proverbs 15:15 says that life with a cheerful heart is like this. It’s like a never-ceasing party celebrating all that God has done.
But how can we do this amid such a broken world? How can we feast when there is a famine in the land around us?
We need a cheerful heart…
A cheerful heart is one of remembrance.
A cheerful heart can put painful circumstances into perspective.
A cheerful heart is not controlled by outside forces but stands firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Even though the world is broken, we have joy because the resurrection is complete and eternity with Jesus is guaranteed to all who believe. No matter what happens on this side of life, we always have a reason to praise because perfection is promised on the other. A heart can be cheerful even in the darkest of circumstances because this is where its hope lies.
If that is not where your hope lies, though, then it will be hard to have a cheerful heart. If your eyes only see the brokenness around you, then it will be difficult to praise God for his goodness.
If there is only famine in sight, you must adjust your gaze.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
This is not an invitation to deny all of the hardships in your life, it is, however, an invitation to see God in all the hardships of your life.
In the darkest of valleys, He is with you. (Psalm 23:4)
In the bleakest of moments, He is working them together for your good. (Romans 8:28)
In the most painful of heartbreaks, He is refining you. (James 1:2-4)
Life is hard and having a cheerful heart does not mean denying that. Having a cheerful heart is having faith in God despite that. Do not let circumstances win the war of your heart. If you only see famine, adjust your gaze because there is a harvest of joy ripe for picking. There is so much good in this life because of Jesus. We just have to have the eyes to see it and a heart set on it. Then, we will feast continually.
God,
Thank you for a joy that is eternal because of the finished work of the cross. Thank you for mourning with us and giving us hope even still. I trust that you are always with me and that you are working in every circumstance. Create in me a cheerful heart and fill me with your Spirit. May your joy in me be a testimony of your goodness to the world.
Amen