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For most people, it’s easier to control what foods we eat than the things we feel. It’s not always easy to have a glad heart. In Proverbs 15:13, King Solomon wrote:
“A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”
Proverbs 15:13, English Standard Version
Emotions play an integral role in our daily lives, impacting our physical health, mental well-being, and spiritual state. It’s common to feel overwhelmed, but God wants to help us establish a healthy relationship with our emotions.
God understands the importance of emotions and encourages us not to ignore them. Ignoring our feelings can be detrimental, but in His wisdom, God knows exactly what we need to find balance and peace. Letting Him guide us through our emotional landscape can bring clarity and comfort.
God invites us to share our feelings with Him, and He promises to help us manage them. Holistic well-being includes mental and emotional health, not just physical.
In Nehemiah 8:10, the prophet proclaims, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” This joy—the foundation of a glad heart—which comes from God, offers a constant source of strength. He offers this joy to help us endure and overcome life’s challenges. In Romans 5, Paul emphasizes rejoicing in suffering, rooted not in circumstances but in God’s strength. Despite his trials, Paul found joy through faith, a source of strength we can also access. If Paul can have a glad heart, certainly we can.
The very first Psalm celebrates delight in the law of the Lord. David’s joy in studying God’s law underscores the belief that God’s guidelines are designed for our benefit. Following His ways is not burdensome, but rather a path to a joyful, fulfilling life.
God is not afraid of our emotions; He wants us to express them and seeks to help us process them healthily. By relying on Him, we can achieve emotional stability, experience enduring joy, and cultivate a glad heart.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being my comfort. You are good to bring me joy, help me stabilize my emotions in an unstable world, and be the ultimate source of peace. Help me understand my feelings and work for emotional health. Grant me Your peace, Lord, so I can reflect Your love and peace to those around me who are hurting. In Your Son’s name I pray. Amen.
Listen now to the short version of this Abide meditation, “Having a Glad Heart,” based on Proverbs 15:13. Let God speak to you about giving Him control of your emotions.
Let Abide be your daily companion as you seek to understand what having a glad heart looks like. Our more than 1500 biblical meditations all exist to help you draw closer to God and let Him be Lord of your life. Download the app and start a premium subscription. This will give you access to our entire library of content. Use this link for 25% off.
