"In sorrow, He's my comfort, in trouble. He's my stay. He tells me every care on Him to roll. He's the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star, He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul."
Whatever the sorrow is, whether it's caused by betrayal, the death of a loved one, or sickness, God is a source of comfort and strength. He was betrayed and lost His friend Lazarus. The Bible says, "He wept," so he understands our pain. The scripture says, "He can be touched by our infirmities." He knows our pain and discomfort.
The Psalmist says, the joy of the Lord is our strength."
Our world today wants nothing to do with sorrow. It drowns out its sorrow with busyness, music, therapists, and even medication. But what is sorrow?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sorrow as
(a) deep distress, sadness, or regret, especially for the loss of someone or something loved
(b) resultant unhappy or unpleasant state.
However, in the Bible, sorrow represents deep emotional pain, grief, or distress caused by loss, misfortune, or sin. Sorrow is also an inevitable part of life, but offers hope through God's presence, comfort and eventful relief. Scripture distinguishes between godly sorrow, which leads to repentance and salvation (2 Cor 7:10), and worldly sorrow, which produces death and selfish remorse. It is a natural consequence of a broken world, yet it is ultimately promised to be removed by God.
I understood this morning, after mulling over the song, that whatever comes my way, God is my strength and comfort.
I sang it until the meaning was spelled out clearly in my heart. What is the Lord telling me?
There will be times, days, months, maybe years, when I will be filled with sorrow, but the Lord promises my sorrow will be turned into joy.
John 16:20 says it like this, "Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice, and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy."
I am encouraged that in the midst of my sorrow, it will turn into joy as I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, my redeemer. I was reminded of a few years ago when I was faced with a sorrowful feeling someone demonstrated. I immediately called on the Lord in prayer and told him how I felt and how painful this was. The answer I received from the Lord comforted me immensely, bringing a smile to my lips and peace to my heart. Sorrow may bring tears and sadness, but joy comes in the morning as strength to my soul and peace to my inner being. Look to the Lord, the author and finisher of your faith
Jesus' death brought sorrow to his disciples, but after a while, they came to understand that the sorrow was only for a moment and that their Lord would return for them one day, bringing them joy. Your sorrow may feel as if you cannot bear it, and that no joy will be coming up soon, but I want to encourage you to stand strong; you are not alone. Sorrow may endure for a time, but peace and joy will come in the morning.
Sarai, renamed Sarah, experienced sorrow as she endured years of barrenness and was jeered, ridiculed, and laughed at. Rachel experienced the same and was very sorrowful, sad, and unhappy. Hannah went through the same sorrow that she went to the Lord in quiet prayer. Her husband loved her immensely and asked her if he was not more to her than ten sons. But Hannah was sorrowful in the depths of her heart.
That sorrow was deep, and only God could take her out of that place. These women were laughed at, called barren, but God never forgot them. Scripture says that God can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. He knows and understands our sorrow. Their sorrow lasted for a while, even though, in their eyes, it seemed long, but their joy came in the morning.
Abraham and Rachel experienced profound sorrow through deep personal loss, infertility struggles, and the suffering of their children. Abraham endured sorrow through Rachel.
- Job losing his family and wealth, and David weeping in the Psalms.
- Jesus Christ (The Savior), known as a "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3), experienced profound sadness. He wept at his friend Lazarus's grave (John 11:34–35) and endured deep agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying, "My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death" (Matthew 26:38
- Jeremiah, "the weeping prophet," expressed intense sorrow over the destruction of Jerusalem.
- David frequently expressed profound despair in the Psalms, "I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping" (Psalm 6:6).
All of this tells me that God understands human pain and that, as a believer, there is hope despite suffering and sorrow.
But at this time of utter hopelessness and misery, Jeremiah speaks words of hope on behalf of the LORD. The sorrow and suffering are not the end of the road.
"For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. In Christ, we are more than conquerors. And the LORD helps us in our weaknesses.' Rom. 8: 22).
I cannot give up. When Jesus was on earth, He suffered many things: betrayal, rejection, sorrow, the death of His friend, ridicule, evil thinking, and plans to kill Him before His time, yet He never forgot His purpose. I, too, as well as you, will experience pain, sorrow, and everything that life offers, but we have to endure it with the intent that tomorrow will bring a brighter day of joy and peace.
This is a song that spoke to my heart in the midst of my sorrow, pain, and suffering.
"I've got to hold on, (hold on) when the storms of life are raging.
"Hold on, when there's trouble all around me, There are times when Satan tempts me, When he thinks times are hard to bear, But I've got to hold on, Hold on."
My only goal is to worship the Lord of Heaven and give Him the praise that belongs to Him. He is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise, even in the midst of my sorrow and pain.
Are you willing to do the same, in spite of your sorrow, your pain, or your storm?
Thanks for reading my piece. I hope you are strengthened and don't think every sorrow is strange. Read on with these writers below, draw strength, and be motivated to lift yourself.
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