Is a Pleasure to God, May 22

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will He help the evil doers: till He fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. Job 8:20, 21.RRe 144.1

You will ever find with the true Christian a marked cheerfulness, a holy, happy confidence in God, a submission to His providences, that is refreshing to the soul.—Testimonies for the Church 3:377.RRe 144.2

Said Christ, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” We are not to make crosses for ourselves, by wearing sackcloth, by pinching our bodies, or by denying ourselves wholesome, nourishing food. We are not to shut ourselves in monasteries, away from the world, and do no good to our fellow-beings, thinking this is the cross of Christ; neither are we required to expose health and life unnecessarily, nor to go mourning up the hill of Christian life, feeling it a sin to be cheerful, contented, happy, and joyful. These are all self-made crosses, but not the cross of Christ.—Testimonies for the Church 4:626, 627.RRe 144.3

Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to others a false representation of God and the Christian life. They give the impression that God is not pleased to have His children happy, and in this they bear false witness against our heavenly Father.—Steps to Christ, 116.RRe 144.4