How many of you have ever smiled? I’m going to take a wild guess we all have, at least once or twice. How many have smiled even when you weren’t happy? It happens all the time; people don’t want to discuss their issues or don’t want others to know something is wrong. For whatever reason they smile to make those around them believe they are fine. There are many people I know that do not serve God and they smile. Some of them smile ALL THE TIME, they are bubbly, happy, cheerful, whatever word you want to use. The thing is they have no joy, happiness is far away, and yet they smile.
I often hear from those in the ministry that as a christian I should smile and then I hear that’s one of the ways people will know I’m a christian. They’ll see that I’m happy and will know that I serve God. What?! Show me that scripture, go ahead I’ll wait. Having trouble finding it are you? Yep, me too. Do you know how many times that the Bible says the word smile? I looked it up for you, the answer is zero. Before I go any further, I understand where these ministers were coming from. They were saying that serving God should make us happy and I agree. They believe that walking around looking angry or mad isn’t the best witness. I gotta agree with that. What I don’t agree with is that if I’m not smiling I don’t have the joy of the Lord. I don’t agree that simply smiling allows the world to know I am a christian.
Here’s what I do believe though. I believe that God is able to give me peace that I can never understand, no matter how hard I try. I believe that in my worst moments God is still there and will never leave me. I believe that my saviour lives. I believe in my darkest hour, when my heart seems to be ripped from my chest, I can still have the joy of the Lord. If that doesn’t sound backwards I don’t know what does! I believe that while sitting at a funeral or watching the casket of a loved one go into the ground, God’s joy and peace can be present. I believe that I can have tears streaming down my face and yet I can still have assurance that my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and that gives me joy!
Such a paradox, isn’t it? Agony and joy at the same moment. How is that even possible? My joy in the Lord comes not from tangible items, but from deep within my soul. While a part of me can feel pain, agony, disappointment, there is a piece that even in those moments clings to Christ. In that place I feel His strength, power, protection, peace, and love. How can l not feel joy there?
I believe people declare such nonsense as our smile demonstrates to others our relationship with the Lord because it is the easy substitute to living a godly life. The popular “christian” way to think is to say Jesus a lot, wear t-shirts with clever chrisitan sayings, and smile all the time is being a witness rather than making a stand against wrong, living lives that aren’t spotted by the world, being faithful to what the Bible says or loving people with a Godly love that always includes truth, disciple and accountability. Honestly, the greatest fake smile will never be a substitute for a truly joy filled heart.
Thanks for this.
With out God I would be nothing In him all things are possible. The realization of Gods word and understanding of it gives me the joy I need to go on in times of troubles in this life. Do I always wear a smile , no i don’t. whether I wear a smile or not does not display Christ in me to the world nor does it reveal the hidden things of the heart. The way I live my life for God reveals if I am a child of God. I ask myself ; Lord am I following you ;am I doing what your word says; am I listening to your Spirit . In answering these and so many more questions to myself with a yes ; Then and only then can I put a smile on my face in truth because walking with Christ is my greatest joy.