It shows up in our sleep patterns. We can even experience desperate sorrow. Isa 17:11 … of desperate sorrow. Jeremiah 49:23 described a situation like this. …they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Other translations say trouble on the sea or anguish on the sea. Is there sorrow on the sea of your life? It is so important that we identify the source of our sorrow so we know exactly how to overcome.
Another step in overcoming sorrow is to recognize that it is natural to be sorrowful for a season. Stop trying to keep it hidden where no man can see. No matter if sorrow is a result of sin, death, tragedy, etc., God gave our bodies the ability to wear the face of sorrow for a reason. By doing so, we can quit denying the obvious and more clearly define the areas of our life that need His help. Ecc. 7:3 states that Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. Here is a little twist to this verse that you may not have heard before. It’s a simple thought but can be very true. Maybe-just maybe-sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance your fellow brethren can see that you need some intercessory prayer going on and they can start praying for the obvious. Thus, God makes the heart better. Ever think of it that way? Accept the naturalness of sorrow when life events happen. God knows it’s a human reaction and He designed this process to prevent bitterness. (By the way, this is not a license to go around with withering faces and droopy eyelids for attention; we are writing on the TRUE sorrow that manifests itself in our actions.)
The final step to overcoming sorrow is to tackle it. If sorrow is the result of unrepented sin, repent!! 2 Chron. 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of. Sorrow vanishes when sins are washed away and remembered no more. Thank God for Godly sorrow that brings about repentance! As stated, there is a time and season for sorrow but it is not to last forever. John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. God’s ultimate desire is for us to have joy that no man can take away and He knows exactly how to embrace us in our state of sorrow. He can fill us with unspeakable joy!
Just as He has given us the ability to wear the face of sorrow, He has given us the ability to recognize when the time comes for sorrow to end. This timing is different for everyone and only you and God will know when the moment comes, but seize the moment!! We can’t wallow in our sorrow and miss what God is trying to give us, friend! Sorrow may last for a night, a season, or an extended period of time but when it’s time for joy, time for happiness, time to move into a new morning; take hold of it! Tackle it! See it as the lifesaver it is and recognized that it is okay to embrace happiness again.
Overcoming sorrow is not easy, but SO worth it! The newfound energy, the freedom, and happiness that replaces the bleakness of heart are like God’s very breath breathing fresh life into a shattered and wilted soul. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, … and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (John 16:20) Prayer is the beginning of the end to sorrow, so pray! Allow God to change the season of sorrow into newness of life and take comfort in knowing we CAN overcome all faces of sorrow.
