Proverbs 14

In this chapter, there were two very interesting verses about the heart: “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy… Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.” (vs 10, 13)

In a chapter filled with many proverbs that sound similar to what we’ve already read in the previous 13 chapters, I found myself going back again and again to the ones about the heart. What they seemed to be saying to me was that nobody really knows me, nobody can truly understand what I’m feeling or going through.

Is that true? Do only I know the depth of my own bitterness? Can nobody else really know what my most joyous joys feel like? Even worse (as verse 13 suggests), do I participate in the cover-up of who I am? Do I sometimes laugh when my heart hurts? Do I keep a smile on my face when I really feel like crying?

Of course I do. I bet you have too. For me, that was one of the unsettling things about the story of Job (having just recently read it again for this blog). Job had no problem crying when he hurt, shouting when he was mad, and just generally wearing his torn-open heart on his sleeve. And for Christians, who are so used to “dressing up” our bodies (and our faces!) to go to church each week, that can be more than a little unnerving.

I mean, when was the last time you went to church and sang a song of lament? Maybe some of us have, recently—that is, if we’ve been in church at all! Who in their right mind has felt like singing unfettered praise the last 52 weeks in a row? Why doesn’t someone write a praise song with lyrics like, God, I’m tired, stressed out, and really frustrated with life. I don’t even want to be here right now.

Maybe we have a problem with honesty before God. And other people.

Not to worry. For, if these proverbs are correct (and I believe they are), it may be true that there is not another human being on the planet who understands every nuance of your heart, but there is Someone Not Of This World who does: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

No one else may know your heart, but God does. God knows the ins and outs of the bitterness. He knows the heights and depths of the joy. He hears the ache behind the laughter. Before the rejoicing ends in grief, He has tasted the sorrow.

You are never, never, never alone in this world! Though all other men or women may abandon you, there is still One who knows the truth about you, inside and out. There is still One who sees you and hears you and loves you. He knows your heart even better than you do, and it is safe in His hands.