Two Kinds of Sadness

Sadness is one of the most common human emotions and can be difficult to deal with.  The feeling itself brings a burden and often the memory of the event that caused the sadness presses down on our hearts.  It's interesting that the Bible talks about both a bad and a good sadness.  How are we to know the difference and how are we to deal with each of them?

For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation—and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.  2 Corinthians 7:10

We may experience sadness due to grief, loss, worries, disappointments, shame or regret, just to name a few factors.  Thankfully, God does not leave us on our own to face all this. He comforts and strengthens us in our time of need.

Why am I so sad? Why am I so troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God. 

Psalm 42:5

As we take inventory of our lives and relationships God’s  word will help us face those events and sort out what we are responsible to make amends for and what we can let go.  So many of us have stories of how God changed our sadness to joy when we were willing to repent of our sin and experience the pain associated with dealing with the past. 

Jesus compared that sadness and joy with the extreme suffering of a woman in birthing a child and the joy experienced when holding that baby in her arms. 

When a woman is about to give birth, she is sad because her hour of suffering has come; but when the baby is born, she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world. 

John 16:21

Heavenly Father, Thank you for being with us in our sadness, whatever the cause, and for giving us forgiveness and healing. We know that as we do this day with You, no matter how much sadness we experience, even today, that You will make us strong and well again as we put our hope in You.

We even want to trust You today, God, for enough healing that our joy will overflow and we will be those who can come alongside others to comfort and give them hope on their difficult days.   Amen

Let’s let our hearts be comforted and lifted above the things that bring sadness into our thoughts and emotions today.  Our kind and caring God is with us, working good in all things.  Have a wonderful day.