“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”
~Proverbs 12:25
ANXIETY AND ANXIOUS thoughts about living in this fallen world plague the hearts of all human beings: how will I survive, will I have enough to eat, will my family be healthy, will I survive this day, will I die today, will I lose my job, will I contract cancer, will I still be loved tomorrow, what happens when I meet my Maker, are some of the anxious thoughts of fallen human beings. These things seize man’s soul and cause depression and ensnare them in fear and dread, sorrow, and grief. When these anxious thoughts stick into a person’s heart, they sink the heart down like quicksand so that the person cannot take pleasure or comfort in anything. The Law of God is a word of terror to fallen mankind. It fills the mind with horror and dread and plagues the conscience through a fearful anticipation of God’s judgment and fiery wrath. “Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ ” (Deuteronomy 27:26). The Apostle Paul quoted this verse this way in Galatians 3:10, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT CONTINUE IN ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” This is a discouraging word for sinners who have broken all of God’s commandments.
“BUT A GOOD word makes it [the heart] glad” is the second portion of our text. A comforting, cheerful, encouraging, and compassionate word from a friend will strengthen the distressed condition of the downcast soul. “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). This uplifts the heart and stirs it with joy. The word spoken in due season, which is like “apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11) spoken by a pastor or a faithful Christian friend can raise up a downcast soul, and give it comfort, joy, and purpose in life. The good word of which the Proverb speaks is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the good news from “a far country,” which is like cold water to a thirsty soul, very refreshing and reviving. “As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country” (Proverbs 25:25). “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7). This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! When it comes to the heart of a poor sinner who is depressed with the terrors of the law, the Gospel causes it joy as it hears the word of peace, pardon, righteousness, reconciliation, and eternal life in Jesus Christ; such is the word that He himself spoke (Matt. 11:28-29).
DEAR ONE, before you speak, strive to remember the words of Solomon in Proverbs 15:4, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” And may the words of Ephesians 4:29 be those that flow from your mouth, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Friday Devotional: February 7, 2025
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
