A Faithful Smile

Appreciation

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.

Joseph Addison 1672-1719, British Essayist, Poet, Statesman

Ps 89:15-17
How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all the day, and by Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, And by Your favor our horn is exalted. NASU

What is a smile? It is confidence and it is faith, it comes from a place of comfort and security, it comes from God Himself. Our faith should show the world that we have an unwavering and safe refuge. Faith can begin with a simple smile that makes a statement to our own soul. Listen to Ps 42:11, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”

Now how did the psalmist describe God? He described Him as the help of his countenance. So, are you having trouble smiling these days, maybe you need to have a little talk with Him who can lift your countenance and put the Joy of The Lord back into your heart, so it can show on your face. He is also confessing that he cannot smile without Him. Have you ever thought that you could really smile without Him? Probably so, but you found that kind of faithless smile goes quickly away, didn’t you.

George Eliot, British Novelist said this of smiling, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.” What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other?" You see a smile is something that is tangible, it has a value that is underestimated in our churches, and in our Christian fellowship. I have many times over heard the comments of someone who would tell of the impact the smiles of others had on their lives.

St. Thomas Aquinas said this of faith, “Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not in hand,” now a smile has a lot to do with this kind of faith. Listen to the psalmist repeat again in Ps 43:5, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

You see a smile is saying so much more than you thought, a smile is hope, confidence, faith and a great trust and love for your Father. He has never let you down and He never will, go to Him right now and let Him lift your countenance, you haven’t lost your smile at all, its right under your nose, you just forgot who put it there…God Bless.

Pastor William