Today is World Emoji Day – does that mean we will see smiling faces everywhere?
But are they fake or genuine smiles?
We don’t have to put on a fake smile with God, He sees our heart and He knows how we are feeling, and we can have honest conversations with Him.
The psalms are examples of where the psalmist feels free to express honestly exactly how he is feeling – confusion, anger, frustration and pain:
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?How long will my enemy triumph over me? Psalm 13:1-2
Sometimes it is as we offload all of our questions and all of our anger, frustration, and fear onto God, there comes a divine exchange – as we let go of our hurt, we receive comfort from Him. It is when we are honest with Him acknowledging our own need that God can move in and with a whisper bring peace to our spirit. Then we can recall and reflect on God’s goodness, His unfailing love towards us and the gift of our salvation.
But a genuine smile, when we know the peace that passes all understanding, when we know our identity in God, when we know how much we are loved and cherished, that enables us to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.
We can be real and genuine with our emotions.
A smile is infectious it can be a blessing, and bless someone else, as they see the love of God shining out of us…..
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:25
This post is written as part of the Five Minute Friday linkup – where we write for five minutes on a one word prompt. Today’s word was ‘Smile’
Smiling in the #5 spot this week – because I can!
Sharon, may we smile all day because the joy of the Lord will be our strength! Blessings!
Beautiful reflection! Thank you!
The doc said I should be depressed
at cancer’s grim attack,
and was not, I think, impressed
when I smiled right back.
He said he could give some pills
to take ‘way need of faking smile,
and mad he looked (if looks could kill)
when I said, “That’s not my style.
See, doc, there’s a Dude out there
who got nailed unto a tree
all for love and all for care
of the sinnin’ likes of me,
so you can really go and keep
the pills, my man – my joy runs deep.”
Powerful words, known and felt! Thank you Andrew 🙂
We have just started teaching the Psalms to our children’s department at church. I realized that in 20+ years of working with kids I could not ever remember an extended focus on the book. Sure, we hit Psalm 23 with regularity, but there are so many other amazing psalms. The psalms are raw, but I kind of love it. God doesn’t need a plastered on smile, He wants raw emotion – and that includes smile-inducing joy.
FMF #16, Amie
I love the poetry of the Psalms but also the honesty and the great teaching you can find there – and yes plenty of smile inducing, real joy 🙂 Thanks
Keep shining those blessing Loretta FMF #14
Yes, I love that we can be real with God – that we don’t always have to smile but that we can come as we are however we are feeling.
Lovely, sometimes we can’t get to the peace that allows the smile until we’ve brought to God all of our pain! Well said
Thank you for responding, yes, that’s so true, you’ve summarized perfectly 🙂
Being real with God is refreshing. We don’t have to pretend with him because he knows all and sees all. Sometimes it’s hard to smile and that’s okay. He understands.
So true 🙂
A smile is a powerful weapon: it can inspire, fend off negativity and bring joy to ourselves and others. Thanks for linking up with #globalblogging