Are you weary? Are you heavy-hearted? TELL IT TO JESUS but if you are happy and you know it....TELL YOUR FACE!

James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

When we feel certain things, how do we respond?

When we are suffering or something is going on, does the whole world know about it? Do we complain and make other peoples’ lives difficult and complicated? Yes, it is fine to talk to people, ask for advice and prayer, but it is important not to go overboard. There comes a time when people start to think, “Ok, leave me alone. You have your problems, but so do I” and you end up being a burden to their lives. We also should not think, “I am strong, I can do it” because we cannot. Only with Christ’s strength can we carry on.

The Bible says to “let him pray.” Tell the Lord! Remember the song? “Are you weary? Are you heavy-hearted? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus…” God knows why you feel the way you do and He knows how long you will feel that way, so with His omniscience, we should go to Him and seek Him. Even though He knows how we feel, He wants us to tell Him and ask Him to help us. He wants us to learn from whatever comes into our lives.

Here are some verses that talk about God hearing our prayer:

Psalm 91:15: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

Psalm 50:14-15: “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Luke 11:9: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Philippians 4:6-7: “Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

When we are happy, does it show? We should always have the joy of the Lord, and why do we Christians have faces that look like we just lost our phones (because some people are so lost and desperate without a phone) and are about ready to strangle someone? Why can people not tell when we are happy and rejoicing in the wonders of God? Is it because we are embarrassed to show it? Or maybe it is because we really are not rejoicing in the Lord…and that is a sin (Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”). The Bible says to sing! Let it show! If you are happy…tell your face!

Exodus 15:2: “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

I Chronicles 16:9/Psalm 105:2: “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wonderous works.”

Psalm 104:33: “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.”

Psalm 126:2: “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”

If people see our joy and our desire to serve the Lord, it is a good testimony. They will see the Lord working in and through our lives.

What is your reaction?

- What do you do when you are having a bad day? Or when you are going through a hard time?

- When you are happy and joyful, are you embarrassed to show it? Are you ashamed to show that you are grateful for what Christ has done and is doing for and through you?