Just how
important is it for each one of us to be
happy? We frequently learn about new
wonder-drugs advertised almost daily via
huge campaigns that are designed for the
very purpose of making us whole, healthy,
and happy. It is also very interesting that
recent studies show that laughter,
happiness, and joy “inspire” the immune
system to create white “T” cells -- commonly
called “happy cells” -- that help to prevent
infection. These studies show that happiness
can be a very effective and preventive
medicine. In fact, the value of a “Merry
Heart” has been solidly confirmed as a good
medicine. Here are some proverbs that back
this up:
Proverbs 18:14: The spirit of a man
will sustain him in sickness, but who can
bear a broken spirit?
Proverbs 17:22: A merry heart does
good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit
dries the bones.
Proverbs 12:25: Anxiety in the heart
of man causes depression but a good word
makes it glad.
Proverbs 15:13: A merry heart makes a
cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the
heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:15: All the days of the
afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry
heart has a continual feast.
Laughter, happiness, and joy have been
described as healing the body and making way
for God's grace. They are like a form of
prayer, a song of the soul, and are the
shortest distance between two people. They
have been described as a balm from God's
hand on a troubled world. Whole-hearted
laughter (happiness) teaches love. It
inspires hope, teaches tolerance, and
encourages fellowship.
The gospel of the coming Kingdom of God
points to the ushering in of whole-hearted
happiness and pleasures:
Psalms 36:8-9: They are abundantly
satisfied with the fullness of your house,
and you give them drink from the rivers of
your pleasures. For with you is the fountain
of life; in your light we see light.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 simply says: “Rejoice
always”.
As we strive for the coming Kingdom of God,
where there will be pleasures and happiness
for evermore, we need to realize that
laughter, happiness, and joy are the
ultimate medicines of the soul that God has
given to us. They are the greatest of all
“chill-out pills” giving us an afterglow
that relaxes us and reduces stress on our
nerves. They make up a perfect medicine for
God's people, and will help us overcome this
crazy mixed-up world........if we don't
neglect to utilize them in our lives.
