“Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief” (Proverbs 14:13).
Judging a person or a situation by appearances will often result in a misjudgment. All of us can recall an occasion in which we were expected to “put on a happy face” regardless of how we actually felt at the time. For some this is a recurring, daily expectation.
Not everyone who appears happy or “having a good time” is. Sorrow of heart and heaviness of spirit are often masked with a smile or a slight laugh. Love and wisdom seek to gently address the hurt, discontinuing the game of charades. Jesus—who know what was in all men (John 2:25)—looked upon the multitudes of His day and compassionately saw numerous individuals whose spirits were weary and heavy laden (Mat. 11:28); they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd (Mat. 9:36).
What a friend we have in Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
