I am reposting this little devotional thought on sadness to encourage anyone struggling with depression and sadness right now. Remember, Jesus is "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."Psalms 6:6-7 - 6 I'm tired of all this — so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights On the flood of my tears. My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. 7 The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope. THE MESSAGE
Psalms 13 - O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? NLT
I am alive!!! I know this because I hurt. I know this because I sorrow, am disappointed, and feel the deep sadness that often goes with being a man on this fallen planet. Yes, of course I hate the dark moods of life, but they testify to me that all is not right, and that sin and death are the reality of this groaning, cursed ground. You may think I am crazy, but a few moments ago while sitting here feeling quite discouraged and heart-sick, this truth slipped through one of the cracks in my heart and brought me comfort.
We live in the age of the HAPPY CULT, of which I have often been a zealous adherent. We are made to believe that being happy is our birthright and entitlement. To feel bad is the ultimate no-no, and the perfect excuse for extramarital affairs, most divorces, and regular indulgences for our sinful nature. Many Christians I know would rebuke me for these thoughts and accuse me of being negative, faithless, and oppressed by an evil spirit. To these things, I must counter with the words of David and Solomon, men of much greater stature than I. It seems God often has His servants in the school of suffering as they major in depression, discouragement, disappointment, and discontentment.
Please understand, I am not advocating some kind of sick, masochistic view of suffering that encourages the onslaughts of sorrow and pain as though they are blessings to be sought. I am not. Rather, I am simply convinced that suffering is an amazing teacher, and a constant reminder that all is not well down here. Our Utopian experiments are all failing, (thankfully) and we must look to embrace God's Redemption experiment, for, it is at work in the hearts of hurting and joyful sons and daughters.
Pain reminds me that I feel, and it serves as the emotional and spiritual counterpart to my physical nerve endings. It teaches me to avoid evil and embrace God. It is a beautiful thing that the God who could give me the capacity to laugh loudly from the belly, experience the ecstasy of sexual passion, and the beauty of art and music, could also equip me with the emotions of sadness, anger, and sorrow. The pleasure, and the pain, teach me about the God of the Scriptures who sits in the heavens laughing, stands outside Lazarus tomb weeping, and cries out in the oil press of Gethsemane, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Ecclesiastes 7:3-4 - 3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the
wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the
house of mirth. NKJV
I love the fact that we do not have to deny our feelings. We do not have to try to put on our happy face and pretend that life is grand. Instead I see over and over in the Psalms the description of how horrible the situation is but then the focus turns to God. How great is our God. Why so down cast oh my soul?? Put your hope in God. Live is hard. Bad things happen. People hurt and disappoint us. Our hearts get wounded and tired. But God... The source of hope, rarely rescues us, but in his infinite wisdom, gives us what we need to perservere.
ReplyDeleteA very well written commentary on the human condition, my friend.
ReplyDelete1) It would preach!
2) It could set many people free.
3) "The Happy Cult" is a great name for an alternative Christian rock band.
-they could open for "The Flaming Lips."
I blogged on this recently myself -
ReplyDelete"Pain is life. That is a constant - a given. There is no cure. But certain types of pain are bearable, and even strengthening."
I wish pain wasn't such a good teacher. I wish I was a better pupil of righteousness so that pain need not be my professor. I grow weary of hurting. It has become a companion not a perseverance. In moments of freedom (and I do mean moments), I'm not really free. Pain just lulls to a dull roar. Laughter comes but isn't deeply felt. Smiles grace my lips but are fleeting and in the end I limp away. The difference between Jacob and I? There is no new name, no pronounced blessing after the struggle to persevere... just a limp.
Tears don't help, but they sure come often.
I have to ask, Doug; have you ever read anything by John of the Cross? This sounds like the sort of thing he might have said.
ReplyDeleteJoel,
ReplyDeleteI have only read excerpts and quotes from John of the Cross, but nothing of any length. I appreciate the encouragement though and will consider it a great compliment.
It is amazing how this post has generated such strong feelings. This demonstrates to me how much people want to talk about our common condition and struggles.
Blessings,
Doug
Well, I am currently attending the school of the 4 major "D's". Sometimes the ache in my heart is unbearable. But, everytime I feel as if these "D's" are taking over my life-I realize how alive the Holy Spirit is in me. Because it is only because of HIM that I can get up, get dressed and go on another day. "God, Please help me to continue to decrease so You may increase."
ReplyDeleteThe other morning I awoke from yet another fitful night’s sleep and was struck by a fleeting thought (thank God it was fleeting) that I was being buried alive in a box with literally no room to move. Supposedly I was suffering for Christ through persecution but there wasn't any sense of the Grace of God for this kind of agony. There was nothing but stark terror and taunting demons with me in that box. Even now I shutter to think about the horror I felt in this “fleeting thought.” My petrifying thought was disrupted by my daughter who was beside herself having to arise early to go to school. She was suffering with the thought of having to wake up early to go to school and learn. Poor thing! Both of us suffered that morning with perceived injustice and harm being exacted upon us by an enemy. Fortunately it was short-lived and both of us got over it. I wonder if I would trade the feelings of terror for not being able to feel at all. Not being able to experience love, enjoyment, laughter, and caring, crying, fear, or to never be concerned with the 4 D's. I would no longer be created in the image of God, I'd be a rock! No thanks... bring on the terror! Better yet, bring on the laughter! I want to die from laughing my fool head off!
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I’ll have to admit, I think my definition of suffering comes from The American Spoiled Brat Dictionary. What dictionary do you all use? (That LB… always trying to step on toes!) Sorry… it just came out.
Oh, let me add that true suffering is nothing to joke about at all. There's nothing worse in my estimation. My previous post might leave some with the thought I'm insensitive to suffering altogether, and I'm most certainly not. I remember Jesus and His Passion always! Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, and we didn't consider him to be worth anything.
ReplyDeleteIsa 53:4 He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering and carried our sorrows, but we thought that God had wounded him, beat him, and punished him.
Isa 53:5 He was wounded for our rebellious acts. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so that we could have peace, and we received healing from his wounds.