When Sorrow Finds You

"what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 'Father, glorify Your name.'" —John 12:27-28

“As a saint of God, my attitude toward sorrow and difficulty should not be to ask that they be prevented, but to ask that God protect me so that I may remain what He created me to be, in spite of all my fires of sorrow.  Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life, and there is no use in saying it should not be. Sin, sorrow, and suffering are, and it is not for us to say that God has made a mistake in allowing them. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you.  If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.” - Oswald Chambers

My wife and I had a lengthy discussion about sorrow, how people respond to it, and what, if any, good can come from it.  For the most part, people focus on the here and now – their mortal lives and put everything that happens in that context.  Their natural life has primacy over any and all other considerations.  What happens to them, or doesn’t, shapes their attitude toward others and their confidence in themselves.

The thing is … that is the wrong view of life.  But those who are not “born again by the Spirit” they have no choice really.  I don't suppose you remember the song "Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin. Easy on the ears, but hard to live out. There is nothing or no One that those who are without saving hope can turn to for answers, for relief. They must trust in mere mortals for help.  Like a drowning person asking another drowning person to help them.  Today the world is gripped with fear over the pandemic. Believe it or not, the response from both sides is bitter, even hateful toward the other - that my friend is fear, worry. But, for those who have been “born again” there is another road to be taken. 

As Christians there are two aspects of how we respond sorrow in this life.  First – what you should do when it happens to you.  Second – what you should do when it happens to others. When it happens to you - The Apostle Paul wrote -

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoicing always – not being anxious – experiencing a peace that transcends human understanding – peace in the midst of turmoil – that has a supernatural root – born out faith and experienced by the power of the Spirit who rests in the heart of every Christian.  It is God’s intent that we, as Christians, would exercise these abilities – that the fruit of the Spirit – the result of living a life submitted to the Spirit of God – would be evidenced in us no matter what happens to us.  What is out of the reach for the natural man is fully within the grasp of the “super-natural” man.  The man or woman who is saved by the sacrifice of Jesus through faith and trusts in the Lord as a way of life – their new life.

So what do you do with all of that pain – hurt that life brings your way? Pastor Rick Warren said “God never wastes a hurt”

Paul also wrote – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 

Just as God provided strength to endure and overcome, He expects us, and has equipped us, to embrace the comfort we found in Him and then use it to encourage others.  Not to “fix” them, but to love them.  Experiencing personal hardship increases my compassion for others.  I don’t seek hardships and disappointments out .. but I know they will most surely find me.  But I don’t have to let the sorrows of life break me.  Not with God on my side. And neither do you my friend.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone