Often times in this dark world we find ourselves in a situation where nothing but tears will suffice.
This is called the depths of sadness, or sorrow. Pain and sorrow go hand in hand, and while we live in this world there will inevitably be times of deep sadness and pain.
I have narrowed down the major sources of this deep ailment of the heart. Now I say this: this is not a comprehensive list, it is just the few that seem most applicable to me.
The things that most cause us sadness and most draw us into the valleys and deep trenches of heart-wrenching pain are these, in the order I will go over them, as well as our response to them:
Often times we feel the most sorrow because we have been disillusioned or jaded to the world around us. Sometimes, when things are going well, we forget that we live in a sinful world, and that we walk among sinful people. And thus, if we live with a happy-go-lucky attitude there will invariably come the situation, the trial, the pain that shakes us out of our happy dreams and shows us what it is like to live in a sin-torn world.
This can lead us to sorrow, and deep bitterness or resentment can build in our hearts towards the people or things that shocked us from our dreamy state and made us remember that life is pain, and that to live life means facing up to the pain.
This most often comes from a wrong, or unwilling mindset about the world in which we live, for if we begin to believe that this world is alright, then obviously we won't see how harmful it is until it gets too close, and too often by that time, it is already too late, the damage is down, and we are left battered and bruised by every new trial or tribulation.
The second thing that causes us sorrow is Death. And I don't simply mean people who are close to us dying, I mean the very essence of what death represents, and this is the one that I believe all others fit into, for the aura of Death, is that all things fade, all things must end. And whether that is the life of a dearly beloved, the loss of something important like a job or property. All things disappear, and anytime we are tempted to put our faith in things that disappear we are bound to be left holding nothing but thin air when it is finally gone.
So our tears begin to stain the ground, we feel the loss deep in our souls and cry out to God, asking why, when it is very clear to us the reason.
My friends, if you are not in this place yet, but you feel that there is something in your life that you can't live without, whatever it may be, car, home, job, spouse, family, friends, anything. You may have already started down the path that will lead to only sadness and pain from the loss, C.S. Lewis put it like this: "Don't let your happiness depend on something you might lose."
The third thing that leads us down this dark road is sin... O sin, our old enemy, and the devil also, for he holds sin's chain, and uses it to lead God's children astray.
Anytime we value or desire anything more than God we are committing idolatry, the same deadly sin that sank deep into the heart of God's chosen people Israel and incurred God's righteous wrath against their rebellion.
Christian, you have heard this much, but if ever you have listened to it, listen again now...
An idol makes a dirt-poor god... They are only things, or people, and they will fail us every time. The futility of following them amounts to going to a broken cistern to drink, knowing full well that it cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:12-13 says: "Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate , declares the LORD, for My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
Whatever it is that you go after besides God... It will never satisfy the hunger or thirst in your soul, because you were made to be a reservoir for the only Divine, the only Living God. Drink deeply from His streams of grace, for they never end, and you will never leave God's presence thirsty if you seek Him with all of your might...
So, before I speak of the last one, (which is special, as you'll see). I wish to speak of how we combat these sorrows, how do we stand when we are laid out on the hard ground, drowning in sadness and pain?
I will tell you a more excellent way...
When we become disillusioned or jaded we must recall that our minds are meant to be set higher. As Christians we have seen the divine, and we must always search for the Light again when we see the false colors and the facades and personas drift away on the winds of change.
Colossians:3:2 "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
With this we must renew our minds, and if you ask how we are to do that, the Scriptures have a ready answer: Romans 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
So then, we must return our jaded minds and thoughts to things that will never change, that is, the Scriptures, for our God will never change, He will never fail us, and we can never become disillusioned from absolute perfection and purity, which only God can boast of. Our Good Lord will never fail you, so if you are in the deep throes of sorrow over being shown that this world is sin-twisted and vile, turn your eyes to the only one in it all who remains pure, our Lord Jesus Christ who walked through the mire of sin, with complete perfection and died that we also might be free.
Pull back the veil: 2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Now, for the dark of Death, and the sorrow the Old Reaper brings...
How can we be pulled from his cold hands? Simply by reminding ourselves that Christ has torn from Old Death every power but the power to bring us to Jesus' side when our time is done. Acts 2:24 says "God raised Him [that is, Jesus] up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it."
Death's vast power in this world is to make all things fade, but when we place our hope in Christ, who could never be held by death, we also become conquerors in Christ's holy name, for just as He was raised, so also like Him, we are raised.
And finally, sin... The sadness that sin brings is of the damage it does to the world around us, to our loved ones, to our lives, and indeed, to God. For even He wonders at what could entice us away from Him, when He freely offers us all things. But our Gracious God made a way, and just as we are freed from Death through Jesus, so also are we freed from the chains of Sin.
Romans 5:8-10 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."
And indeed further in Romans 8:1-2 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."
Now finally, I wish to discuss one more source of sorrow, and this is the only one I believe it is alright for Christians to have, and keep.
The sorrow of being Worn... Have you ever seen the pain and sorrow around us, felt it perhaps, and thought only of what heaven will be like when all wrongs are righted and all sorrows are gone, replaced by everlasting joy?
This is a sorrow we must cultivate, but only if it causes us to look forward to heaven, where God dwells, awaiting us with outstretched arms to welcome us into glory.
So then, here are a few parting words for your comfort when you are in the midst of sorrow.
God knows every tear we ever cry, and will recompense every wrong done. Psalm 56:8 "You have kept count of my wanderings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not written in your book?"
And someday, He will wash away every tear, forever. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Sorrowful no more,
--The Scribe
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