The Heart May Sorrow
“How are you?” We respond, “Good.” Are we being honest? I may have just been diagnosed with cancer and it doesn’t look good. And yet we answer, “Good.”
“Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.” (Proverbs 14:13, NKJV)
This made me think of the masks we wear in church or when we are among other believers. When someone asks, “How are you?” We respond, “Good,” without even a thought. Are we being honest? Perhaps I just got into a fight with my wife. Maybe I lost my job. A close friend or relative could have died recently. I may have just been diagnosed with cancer and it doesn’t look good. And yet we answer, “Good.”
There are two reasons for this.
The first is that I don’t want to burden someone else with my problems.
I need to deal with them on my own in my own way. I may be a private person and don’t want private things known to others. I want to present to the world that I am truly doing “good.” Even though they have no idea that I am dying within.
The second reason is that the person asking, “How are you?” Doesn’t really care how I am.
They are using the phrase as a way of saying, “hello.” They don’t mean, “How are you.” They mean, “Hello.” When they get an honest answer, they don’t know what to say. Someone says, “Actually, I am not doing good at all, I just got diagnosed with cancer and I don’t know what to do,” the response is, “Oh,” as they try and run as quickly from the awkward situation as possible.
Are you the person who is going through a terrible situation? Don’t let the pride of family privacy get in the way of the Lord ministering to you through others. You need fellowship and you need prayer. Share what is going on with those who truly care. For the person asking, the question is, do you truly care? If not, intentionally say, “Hello,” or “Hi,” instead of “How are you?” Reserve that phrase for the special occasion when you want to be a brother or sister who cares and is ready to hear how the person really is. Because…
Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief.
Let the Lord use you and see the great things He will accomplish.
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