The Best Medicine
The other night one of our kids was really suffering from allergies (We promise—it was not corona!). After listening to the sniffles and various noises for long enough, Lauren instructed the child to take some medicine. The response was truly priceless—a mix of contempt and horror meshed with a gag reflex, along with a barrage of grumbling and complaining. After continued prompting, our child grudgingly joined Lauren at the medicine cabinet. Further complaints followed the pouring of the medicine. “Why do I have to take so much?” “Why does it taste so awful?” After a few threats, the medicine was finally taken. A portion of the allergy medicine was ingested although the accompanying grimaces and gags likely expelled a portion of the medicine in the sink. It wasn’t too long before relief came and a fitful night of sleep could take place.
In many cases the application of medicine is an unpleasant experience. The reason we accept the use is because of the subsequent benefit. It tastes bad now but we feel better later. It stings for a time but later the wound is healed. Proverbs talks about a kind of medicine that not only brings long term healing but is even pleasant to receive.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). Joy is a potent force according to this verse. Just for the sake of clarity, joy is not like happiness. Happiness comes from circumstances. Joy comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Joy comes from walking in close fellowship with God.
The latter half of Proverbs 17:22 is closer in my opinion to where many people are in these days: “A broken spirit.” Some of us, even some of us in the church, have an amazing ability to suck the life right out of people. Instead of a joyful heart, we’ve allowed the circumstances of life to break our spirits. Wherever we go we bring doom and gloom. Fear and doubt. Discouragement and criticism.
The people we interact with each day may be carrying greater discouragement and pain than we realize. Rather than add to that hurt, we can be people that bring healing. I’ve often thought of joy as something internal that is for my own benefit. But joy is not just for me. By living in the joy of the Lord, I can be a life-giving friend to someone.
When people see us coming do they think, “Oh, no! There’s that person who sucks the life out of me.” Or do they think, “Oh, good, they’re here.” Let’s receive and give good medicine.