A Merry Heart Does Us Good

-September 12, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Friday,

“A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

(Proverbs 18:22).

Most older adults, and younger ones too, are on one medication or another, some like me, are on quite a few, and I thank the Lord for them. Medicines have great value to the body, but the joy of the Lord does us good in spirit, soul, and body.

The expression, “good like medicine” may be rendered, “makes medicine even better.” When we choose to rejoice in the Lord with thanksgiving, we just feel better. Studies have shown that patients with happiness heal more quickly.

The word merry is defined as, “cheerful and lively.” We tend to use it mostly at Christmas, “Merry Christmas.” Each one of us needs a merry heart in all our circumstances. It sounds easy, but it is’n’t when we are suffering. But that is when we need joy the most.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” One of my favorite quotes I heard years ago was, is,”pain is inevitable, misery is optional.”

The contrast in our verse is, “a broken spirit dries up the bones.” We should never give up or lose hope. We have the Lord in our lives! He will see us through!

Is your heart merry today? Are you rejoicing in the Lord? Is the joy of the Lord your strength? A merry heart is good like medicine. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.

Julie Andrews sang in the “Sound of Music,”A spoon of sugar makes the medicine go down.” We need a spoon full of joy to make life go down better.

Dean