Background
I spent much of my senior year of high school in a funk. It came and went, but whenever I was in the midst of sadville I sincerely believed I was letting God and everyone else down. During my first semester of college, God came in and overhauled my life and addressed the underlying causes of the funk. However, whenever I felt sad, I still believed I was letting God and everyone else down.
I spent much of my senior year of high school in a funk. It came and went, but whenever I was in the midst of sadville I sincerely believed I was letting God and everyone else down. During my first semester of college, God came in and overhauled my life and addressed the underlying causes of the funk. However, whenever I felt sad, I still believed I was letting God and everyone else down.
God had blessed me with a joyful heart. For as long as
I could remember I made seeming cheery my identity. I was the happy girl, even when I was
miserable. If I ever cried I was alone, until God came in and started softening
my heart to myself and others.
Being able to cry in front of those that truly care about me has been such a blessing in my life. Always holding all of that emotion in made me a ticking-time-bomb. I can remember several times where something real little just made me go off because it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. That isn’t good for anyone!
The purpose of sorrow and mourning
In my first semester of college I was still making happiness my identity. I always felt like it was my job to be happy no matter what. Until one day when God led me to two passages in Ecclesiastes:
Being able to cry in front of those that truly care about me has been such a blessing in my life. Always holding all of that emotion in made me a ticking-time-bomb. I can remember several times where something real little just made me go off because it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. That isn’t good for anyone!
The purpose of sorrow and mourning
In my first semester of college I was still making happiness my identity. I always felt like it was my job to be happy no matter what. Until one day when God led me to two passages in Ecclesiastes:
Sorrow is better than laughter,
For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
Ecclesiastes 7:3, NKJV
For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
Ecclesiastes 7:3, NKJV
(You might remember this one from the movie Footloose.)
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven...
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 NKJV
I am also thankful for the knowledge that we are comforted in the midst of our sorrows and can in turn be of comfort to others.To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven...
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 NKJV
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) tells us:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Through these verses I came to understand that sorrow and mourning is essential for healing. God uses sorrow just like every other part of our lives. So it is okay to be sad. In this time look to Jesus and reach out for support. You might find comfort in speaking to a friend, a leader in your church, or a counselor.
What have you learned during times of sorrow?
How have you been able to use the hard times to help others?
Share in the comments below.
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4. All This Time by Britt Nicole
5. Center of It by Chris August
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*This was originally published on 8/24/12 and was updated on 1/1/19
