From a Letter to a Sister

There is one thing in particular in your letter that is noteworthy; namely, that it is a battle for you to appear happy. You are not alone in laboring under such a strain. I have even seen a whole booklet on this topic in which believers are exhorted always to have a smile on their lips.

Nevertheless, we have no such exhortations in the Scriptures. However, we are strongly exhorted to rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil. 4:4. The next verse gives us more light concerning this strong exhortation to rejoice always in the Lord; namely, that we are not to understand it in such a way that the important thing is to go around looking happy, but that we should be happy in our inner man.

“Let your meekness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” Phil. 4:5. It isn’t so very important that your joy be known to all men, but your meekness is to be made manifest to all. Rejoicing in God is such a mighty inner power that it enables us to reveal to every man in every situation—even in the most turbulent and painful ones—meekness, contentment, peace, and rest.

If the Lord is at hand, which means that we stand before His face, the present things are to be reckoned as nothing, and our happiness is revealed through meekness. You should not attempt to appear happy even if you are happy—let alone if you are unhappy. Paul says that the time is short; so those who rejoice should be as though they did not rejoice. 1 Cor. 7:29-30.

Read 2 Corinthians 6:10. “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” In other words, not as rejoicing, despite the fact that they had perfect joy in God at all times. Take special note of this; also read verses 3, 4, and 10 in this context! They gave no cause for offense by approving themselves as sorrowful, but they rejoiced!

Not appearing to be happy is therefore far from being a sin! Your assumption, which is very common, is based on human understanding that also happens to be in complete harmony with the ways of this world which are commended by the lords of this world.

All the evil, misery, and need we see in this world is nothing to smile at; but do rejoice in God and in the goodness of His salvation! The natural man is either in a good mood or in a bad mood; he is either happy and bold or sad and miserable; but not so the spiritual man. His joy is perfect even while he is full of sufferings, bearing the burdens of many. This is greater than rejoicing over what is good and forgetting the rest.

I hope that you understand this fully, now that your attention has been drawn to it, and that your joy in your inner man may be filled with thankfulness, and your adorning may be meekness, which is very becoming! 1 Pet. 3:3-5.