This isn't the usual message for a Christian blog. Aren't Christians meant to be always cheerful and joyful, no matter what?

A recent article in the UK magazine Woman led with this intriguing headline:

Why being grumpy is GOOD FOR YOU!

Bear in mind that "grumpy" means different things to different people. My guess is that one's understanding of the word will also vary depending on which side of the Atlantic one draws one's terminology from. That said, let's read on...

Apparently, "Not looking on the bright side of life can actually have its benefits". Kate Morris-Bates, clinical therapist and founder of Insideout Wellness, says

We'd all love to be cheerful 100% of the time, but that's not realistic. What is possible, however, is reframing negative emotions -- because let's not forget that if we didn't experience low times, we'd never fully appreciate the highs.

So what are these benefits?

The first identified in the article is: Sadness boosts your memory

To me, sadness is not the same as feeling grumpy. So let's think instead about times when our mood is low. The article cites a study by the University of California that found that on rainy days, people had a much better recollection of details than on bright, sunny days.

Moods that are associated with negative emotions tend to be more attentive, thoughtful and analytical than their positive counterparts. Research has shown that we are less likely to "corrupt our memories with misleading information" when we are in a less than good mood, explains Kate.

What this says to me is that when Jesus-followers travel through sad and difficult times and offer their lament to God, they will remember what God does and how He shows his faithfulness in the challenging time far more than they recall His deeds in the good times.

Stress spurs you on

The idea here is that if we can manage stress in a constructive manner, it actually motivates us to rise to a pressing challenge.

Cortisol is the hormone commonly used to measure stress. Typically, raised cortisol, or the symptoms of it, serve as a wake-up call for individuals to change habits which are not serving them and find ways of reducing their stress levels.

The key is to harness cortisol-driven stress and anxiety and use it to your advantage,' says Kate. Practising meditation and mindfulness is one way to do this, as it helps to induce a heightened state of awareness. 'Think of it as a form of personal mental hygiene. It's a learned skill that must be practised regularly to exert effect,' says Kate.

Meditation may harvest some of the physiological and mental benefits of prayer. But Philippians 4:6-7 promises an experience too of the peace of God to those who bring their requests to God in prayer.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Nothing spurs you on more than the peace of God enveloping your stressed-out person and flooding your mind with the assurance of God's presence with you in the middle of the most trying of circumstances.

Negativity brings focus

The article concludes by suggesting that if we have an outlook that is overly optimistic, we may leave ourselves open to danger by failing to perceive the risks affecting us.

'If a situation presents significant risk, then a pessimist is more likely to look for the worst that can happen,' says Kate. Always check in with your responses to a situation, she suggests. 'Then assess whether you are using your optimism or pessimism to best effect.'

The Bible consistently encourages Christians to think soberly and to be on the watch for attack and danger. For me, that stance is neither optimistic nor pessimistic - it is the foundation for resilience. Yet I do recognise that my responses to any given situation can vary. But I think the more crucial check is on the scale that sets faith and trust in God against anxiety and worry on my part.

So is the case proven? Is being grumpy good for you?

Maybe people are using the term "grumpy" differently today. It should be obvious by now that I regard the catchy headline at the top of this article as nothing more than that. A headline designed solely to pique your interest. It definitely worked for me.

Is being alert to negative things around you, good for you? Yes, providing you can think about those things in a wise way and process them with faith and trust, in the context of a relationship with God.

Do you always look on the bright side of life?

Do you relate to some of so-called benefits of choosing how to respond to sad or negative circumstances?