10 29 07 JOY IN THE MIDST OF SORROW

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4 NKJV)

When we face a time a time of loss, whether it’s a physical loss from a natural disaster, being robbed or having a car stolen, having a loved one pass away, or even a loss of a pet, or a child moving away from home, at times we have no idea how to react: both as the one experiencing the loss and the one’s trying to comfort them.

In this day and age of being a man or a strong woman, we forget that God says it’s a blessing to mourn! We need to grieve over our losses, even the smallest of disappointments can lead to bigger issues if try to keep everything bottled up. The Lord blessed us with emotions to help us cope with this world! Let me share this idea from Jon Walker of Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotion:
Your joy comes from God, not your circumstances – There’s absolutely no correlation in life between your circumstances and your joy. None whatsoever! Joy comes from within. It is based on who you trust not what you see or feel. When you give your grief to God, he is faithful to comfort you (Matthew 5:4).
Focus on what you have – When you experience disaster, focus on what you still have, not on what’s lost. Tell God you’re thankful for what you still have. Make a list of all the good things in your life. Personally, I find it is impossible to be grateful and depressed at the same time.1
Check out the Message version of Matthew 5:4:

“You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

When we lose a loved one, suffer through a tragic natural disaster, or the loss of a friendship, in the grieving process we assess our relationship to the Lord and realize what we have in Him is far better than anything we have in the world……even our families! God must be our best friend, our closest relationship, and our most precious possession. Nothing can separate from His love; no death, no disaster, no devastation of any kind! If we know Christ, we have all we need to cope.

As we trust Him, then we can trust those He places in out path to assist us. We need others around us. We must allow others to give from their hearts and as they minister to us, we feel more of His love through others. Those helping in turn feel the joy of giving back! It’s a process of allowing His grace to flow from His heart to ours in a variety of ways.

So go ahead and grieve the loss. Mourn the tragedy. Allow the grace of God and the strength of knowing Him bring joy to you heart through His comfort and the love of others he guides to you. We are not rocks on an island. We are relational people. Allow the Lord to work within His Body to bring joy……His JOY IN THE MIDST OF SORROW.

1 Jon Walker, PurposeDrivenLife.com, a division of Purpose Driven Ministries, 1 Saddleback Pkwy, Lake Forest, CA 92630