Ever since I can remember, I’ve been an outgoing, optimistic person. I am positive by nature and see the glass half full. Naturally I gravitate to Bible verses about joy. “Shout with joy to the Lord” in Psalm 100 and “Always be joyful” in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 were some of my favorites.
But as sorrow hit my life over and over, I was at a loss for how to pray. If I’d been taught to be joyful always and never stop praying (1 Thess. 5:17), what was I supposed to do with my sadness? How would I pray as an unhappy, not-joyful, lamenting Christian? Can we still pray when life is not going our way?
Yes, God wants our happiness, but he is also genuinely interested in our sadness. Throughout the Bible, God lets us into his grief. Jesus modeled grief, and the Holy Spirit can be grieved (Eph. 4:30). If all creation is groaning (Rom. 8:22), what makes us think we humans can get away without experiencing deep sadness?
As Ecclesiastes 7:3 tells us, sorrow has a refining influence on us. Not only that, but in sorrow we can be made glad—not a gladness due to our circumstances, but a gladness that comes from knowing we have a God who hears us.
Reflect:
Read Ecclesiastes 7:3. Do you let God into every emotion inside of your heart, or do you try to suck it up or pray the pain away? How are you challenged by the idea that God wants your sadness as well as your joy?
Pray:
Try praying differently today. Rather than praising or making requests, focus specifically on expressing to God sorrow, grief, or hurts that are lingering in your heart.
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
We’ve got little information on Jesus’ appearance and personality. But that’s the way God designed it.españolFrançais
Beyoncé’s right. Whether listening to Cowboy Carter or reading theology, diversity is a good thing.
