Some moments in life are filled with sorrow

Some moments in life are filled with sorrow. Heartbreak, disappointment, fear and exhaustion are common experiences to all people. Jesus felt sorrow when He learned of His friend Lazarus's death. He wept. Yet he had a task to complete. He completed the task of raising Lazarus from death, through the tears and sorrow.

Jesus felt fear and exhaustion in the Garden of Gethsemane. He cried out to God and asked for relief from His burden. He asked His disciples to stay awake and pray for Him. They slept, while He wept. When the time came to complete the task of placing His life Into the hands of His persecutors, He completed the task through the tears, through the exhaustion and fear.

When there are simple, straightforward jobs to be done, and you are full of sadness, and tears are flowing easily, go ahead and do the jobs, with tears. When there are great feats to overcome, and you are full of exhaustion and fear, go ahead and conquer the feats through the tears. Be realistic. Say to your tears: ‘Tears, I feel you. You make me want to quit life. But there is a field to be sown, dishes to be washed, a car to be fixed, a sermon to be written, children to disciple, a husband to honor, people to love and serve. Complete the task, conquer the challenge at hand, while the tears flow.

Then say, on the basis of God’s word, “Tears, I know that you will not stay forever. The very fact that I just do my work (tears and all) will in the end bring a harvest of blessing. So go ahead and flow if you must. But I believe (I do not yet see it or feel it fully) — I believe that the simple work of my sowing will bring sheaves of harvest. And my tears will be turned to joy”.

John 16:20-24

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.