There are so many things in this life
that can bring sadness into our lives.
As parents, there are times our children are hurting and we can’t help
them, they are making poor choices but won’t listen, their health is out of our
hands as we stand by powerless, or they are going the wrong way- a path of hard
knocks filled with pain.
For me, one of the saddest times of my
life was after my Dad died. I was 28, it
had been a bad year, and I had many regrets in that we never had much time
together and I really didn’t know him well.
For days the tears came easy.
Everything that reminded me of him made my heart sorrowful. Two months later I told my husband he needed
to forget my birthday- I didn’t want any
spoken or gifted reminder that my Dad wouldn’t be there to see me turn 29.
It was a very distressing time. I would go to his grave site and weep for
what could have and should have been, pouring out my anger at him for allowing
his continual absence due to work. Was
it really more important than me? Why
was it other people knew my Dad better than me?
Why was it I only heard a couple stories before he died? “…by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.” (Pr.
15:13) What do we do when it feels like
we are trapped in an isolating sadness that permeates our being?
Cry to the Lord for He is near:
Jehovah is near all those who call on Him, all those who
call on Him in truth. Ps. 145:18
Jehovah is near to the broken-hearted; and saves those
who are of a contrite spirit. Ps. 34:18
In my distress I called on
Jehovah, and I cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry
came before Him, into His ears. Ps. 18:6
Draw close to Him:
Draw near to God, and He will
draw near to you… Jm. 4:8
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to
the waters… Bow down your ear, and come to Me; hear, and your soul shall live…
Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Is. 55:1,3,6
let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith… Hb. 10:22
Give our burdens to Him:
Cast your burden on Jehovah, and
He will keep you… Ps. 55:22
Come to Me all you
who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you
and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your
souls. For My yoke is easy, and My
burden is light. Mt. 11:28-30
casting all your anxiety onto Him, for He cares for you.
1Pt. 5:7
Remember He already paid the price for our brokenness
-He went through a lot Himself:
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that
of the children of mankind— Is. 52:14 ESV
Surely He has borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him… Is. 53:4,5
Healing is found in the Savior
…and with His stripes we
ourselves are healed. Is. 53:5
He heals the broken-hearted, and
binds up their wounds. Ps. 147:3
Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; He
who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your
life from destruction; who crowns you with
kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your desire with good; your youth is
renewed like the eagle's. Ps. 103:2-5
"The Spirit of the Lord is
on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been
crushed, Lk 4:18 (also Is. 61:1)