The human spirit can endure in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?

Proverbs 18:14

Studies routinely show that people of faith have a higher recovery rate from serious illnesses than those without faith. I doubt that many Christians would be surprised to hear this. Indeed, the human spirit is a powerful influence in our lives if we allow it to be.  Thus, I would say that the first part of this proverb is positive in orientation. However, the second has sinister ramifications.

Have you ever met one of those optimistic, positive people who have a talent for raising everyone else’s mood just by walking into the room? One pleasant word from old Positive Pete, and everyone feels better about their day.

 On the other side of the coin is Negative Nellie. Whenever this person comes along, the mood changes entirely on the downside. Negative Nellie can find the dark cloud for every silver lining, and it is amazing how easy it is to go from the positive to the depths of negativity quickly, and how hard it is to get back on track.

Who can bear a crushed spirit? More importantly, who gains when our spirits are crushed? I suppose that the obvious answer is that if misery really does love company, then it’s a great day for old Negative nellie. Yet there may be more to it than that.

Negativity, by its very nature, brings questions, doubts, unease, even anger and resentment. Negativity that crushes our spirits tears us away from God’s presence and sets us in opposition to His love. I repeat: Who benefits from that?

Nobody I want anything to do with, how about you?