Finding Joy Even in the Hard Times

“All the days of the afflicted are bad,  BUT a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”  Proverbs 15:15. NASB (emphasis mine)

A sweet, petite, elderly lady in our church lost her husband about a month-and-a-half ago. She was understandably very sad. But very soon afterwards, she decided that she was going to be an encourager and make everyone else feel better!

She joined the regular choir and sits right next to me in practice and stands right next to me during worship time.

She will look up at me with the biggest, sweetest smile on her face and say,  “I sure do like singing with you in choir!”

As a matter of fact, I sure do like singing with her, too! How could I not?

So when she says that, a smile lights my face and flashes in her direction, and I tell her how glad I am to get to sing with her as well!

This sweet lady has decided to make it her mission to cheer others up, even in her own great need. And she ends up getting cheered up in return.

“He who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25 (NASB)

Isn’t it strange how that works?

Our natural bent seems to be to hope people will join our pity party, even though we’re not having any fun. And we get upset because no one seems to care. When really they do, but maybe they just have greater needs than we do right now and need us to cheer them up.

I’d like to take lessons from this dear, sweet soul.

I need to take my watering can to God daily for some water of the word, for some joy from His eternal fountain, then go out and make it a point to try to cheer others up with encouraging words.

I fully expect that one way or another, as I water, I will myself be watered!

I fully expect that even on my bad days, this will give my heart a wonderful feast!

What about you? Are you game to give it a try?

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

When our fountain is completely dry, we can come to Him for His joy! His fountain never runs dry!