Good Medicine

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Proverbs 17:22

When I was going through chemotherapy, I wanted to reassure my daughter of God’s kind care for me even when I looked different—without any hair, eyelashes, or eyebrows. (Boy, did I ever learn some new makeup skills!)

I explained to her that the chemotherapy was “good medicine,” and losing my hair was a sign that the good medicine was working, killing the good cells as well as the bad cancer cells. Also, I assured her of my gratefulness to God for all the doctors and nurses that He had provided to give me the medicine.

But just as surely as there is good medicine, there is also bad medicine. Some medicines can immediately offer lifesaving benefits. Others, if used incorrectly, can cause death. As important as it is to have the correct medicine for our physical bodies, it’s more critical to know what we need for our spiritual health.

How in the world can we call in a prescription for a joyful heart? By obediently remaining in Jesus’ love (John 15:9-11) and taking our needs to God in Jesus’ name (John 16:24). Now, that’s good medicine! I have never had a cheerful heart when I’ve disobeyed God’s Word. I have never had a cheerful heart if I have refused to forgive someone or if I have lost my temper and failed to make it right. However, I have experienced joy when I have lived by God’s Word and entrusted my needs to Him.

True joy comes from living in close fellowship with the Lord, which includes obeying and trusting Him. We cannot manufacture this “good medicine” on our own. It comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We can keep a cheerful, joyful heart in our “good medicine” cabinets by being obedient to Christ’s commands and trusting Him with our needs.