As verse 10 declares that “each heart knows its own bitterness and no one else can share its joy” so verse 13 echoes and builds the thought, “even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” I may be able to disguise and hide my true emotion from others, but God and I still know. Some even hide their emotions from themselves, or worse yet their emotions are a swirling mess like debris in the winds of a tornado destroying things they collide into.
When Rachel gave birth to her second she named him with her last breath Ben-Oni meaning “son of my trouble” (Genesis 35:17-18). There was joy at the birth and heartache because the mother died. Though this event matches these two proverbs, it is not the thought today.
Some emotions may linger in my heart for long periods of time affecting in some way any and every event in my life, even opposite emotions. Heartaches and grief born in the loss of someone loved may never go away. Jacob, Rachel’s husband and Benjamin’s father always harbored the loss of his beloved Rachel. Every time he saw Benjamin he was reminded of his deceased love and thus did not risk losing Benjamin (Genesis 43:6). Know deep emotions to learn why I do what I do, perhaps then I may overcome. Meditation of self in light of the Word of God can be of great benefit.
