Radiating Joy

David boldly declared, “[God is] the help of my countenance” (Psalm 42:11). When we talk about countenance, we are referring to facial expression, even body language and tone of voice. David is saying something very important here. Your face is like a billboard that advertises what is going on in your heart — all the joy or turmoil is reflected there. 

When your mind is loaded down with the cares of life, you may have a tendency to frown or even slouch. At the best, you may look preoccupied, with a furrowed brow and a sad appearance. 

I thank God for his great salvation — for redeeming us — but many of us need a Holy Ghost face-lift because our faces are giving the wrong message to the world. You need to be aware that your countenance reflects what is going on inside your heart — it is the index of your soul!

“A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the sternness of his face is changed” (Ecclesiastes 8:1). I take wisdom as used in this verse to mean Jesus Christ. Indeed, the very presence of Christ in your heart has a direct impact on your face. 

Just as worry and sin can harden a person’s face so, too, can the presence of the Lord soften and brighten it. When we fully trust in God’s Word and rest in his love, our appearance will undergo a change; a quiet calm will begin to radiate from our countenance. When Hannah laid down her burden, her face was no longer etched with sorrow (see 1 Samuel 1:18). Joy radiated from her! And when Stephen stood before hostile, angry men in the Sanhedrin, they observed his face appearing as “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). Stephen stood among unbelievers with the shine of Jesus Christ — and the difference was clear to all!   

I encourage you to allow your countenance to speak of God’s faithfulness in your life today.