A crushed spirit can be restored

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22 ESV

If you love your coffee like most runners do, me included, you might want to check out the latest study in the British Journal of Pharmacology that showed a potential link between high doses of caffeine and the risk of developing osteoporosis. And it's not just coffee that needs to be consumed in moderation (less than 800mg) but caffeine pills, energy drinks and caffeine enhanced supplements. Researchers looked at 24 people, half of whom chewed a non-caffeinated gum and the other chewing a caffeinated version, and over the course of six hours, they got fresh gum several times. The latter group ended up consuming about 800 mg of caffeine—that’s the equivalent of eight cups of coffee.That group saw a significant increase in terms of calcium in their urine—about 77 percent more at the end of six hours than when they started. High amounts of calcium output indicate that the kidneys are releasing the mineral faster than the body can replace it. That led the researchers to conclude that over the long term, this could put those in the caffeinated group at a much higher risk of bone density issues and, potentially, a greater risk of developing osteoporosis, which causes your bones to become weak and brittle. And we all know what happens to weak and brittle bones right? They break. 

But you know, caffeine isn’t the only thing that can hurt our bones. The Bible tells us that a “crushed spirit,” or a heart overwhelmed with sorrow, can as well. Why? Because a “crushed spirit” literally “dries up” our joy. And without joy, you and I become weak, broken, depressed, and despondent. Without joy, we lose the ability and the desire to experience happiness and can even come to despair of life itself. And if you think this is something that can’t or doesn't happen to Christians, think again. So many of the things that you and I will experience in this life (like mental, physical or emotional abuse, sickness, loneliness and trauma) can cause us to develop a crushed or sorrowful spirit. Thankfully though, Jesus is always the answer. 

So if you feel as if your spirit is crushed and your bones are dried up today, take heart and seek Christ my friend. Look to Him for guidance and allow Him to heal and restore you so that you can once again experience the "joyful heart" that the Bible tells us is "good medicine." 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that as believers we are not immune to the consequences of living in a fallen world. Help us to comprehend that You are with us when our spirits are crushed—comforting and holding us—and that You long to fill us with the joy of Your presence. Knowing that, cause us to seek you Lord that You might give us the good medicine of joy that restores our bones and our spirits. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!