Who can Bear a Crushed Spirit? by Joe Bailey

Proverbs 15:30 – A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.
I recently received an e-mail from the university which said, “According to the 2010 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, 26.6 percent of UW-Whitewater students reported feeling so depressed they couldn’t function.” Reading this, I was completely caught off guard by that very high number. As Proverbs 17:22 says – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” and Proverbs 18:14 says “The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?”
We ALL struggle from stress at times, but often we can be blinded to how evident these problems are in other’s lives and even our own. The people of Whitewater desperately need God’s peace, rest, and joy. I believe we have all felt the way David does in Psalm 142:1-7,
“I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me for you are good to me.”
As Christians we ought to take this attitude David had, and turn these distraught people to God for their rescue. We are definitely called to love, but how much greater is the love of Jesus Christ?
Hebrews 4:16 – So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.