Proverbs 15: 13 (ESV)
“A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”
In Proverbs 15:13, Solomon tells us that when you have a relationship with God the Father, you have a joyful heart, which means you have an inner state of contentment and happiness. One of the fruits—or effects—of being filled with the Holy Spirit is joy. When you have joy in your heart, you will have a cheerful and happy face. But when there is sorrow in your heart that is deep and long-lasting, it can affect your spirit. Sorrow leads to despair, hopelessness, and a broken heart.
Solomon reminds us that when you have a relationship with the Lord and are filled with the Holy Spirit, your heart will be filled with joy, and your facial expression will reflect this joy. But when you have sorrow in your heart, the despair you feel will also be reflected in your face. Over time, that hopelessness can crush your spirit.
When I have sorrow in my heart, I pray to the Lord to help me restore the joy in my life. I ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me evaluate the sorrow so I can regain my joy. Sometimes, when I feel sad about my life, I make a list of all the things I am grateful for. Halfway through writing the list, I always feel the sorrow beginning to leave me. I am often overwhelmed with gratitude for Father- God’s love for me and for all the blessings I can recall in my life. This reflection leads me to write down a list of the blessings and miracles from the Lord, and soon joy comes flooding back into my being. The memories of the sadness I was experiencing disappear supernaturally, as if they were never there. I know I can keep the sadness I sometimes feel at bay when I think of all the good things the Lord has done in my life.
If this verse resonates with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, whose goodness will always fill you with joy—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in the prayer that follows, expressing your trust and your desire to walk with Him. Welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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