Daily Huddle - Tue Jan 14, 2020 How Do You Overcome Sorrow?

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
Praise God.  There are some things you praise Him for that are just cool, fun, awesome, encouraging, you’re really thankful for them.  But some things you praise Him for – are so deep, so beyond that you could come out of.  He is your deliverer!  Psalms 119:28-29 – My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your Word.  Keep me from deceitful ways, be gracious to me through your law.  Sorrow is wearisome – have you ever been in the grip of sorrow?  It won’t let go.  If you've even been there in a season of your life - you know.  Maybe a loss, or a disappointment, or a misunderstanding – of God and what you thought – and what He did – or seemingly didn’t do.  The wounds of sorrow run deep.  Sorrow is wearisome – it can burden you beyond what you can bear.  There is a time for sorrow, even a purpose for it.  God intended Godly sorrow – to lead us to repentance.  Our first turn to Him – began with Godly sorrow – realizing our sin and His holiness – it led us to repentance.  And our turn to Him – brought salvation and healing and establishing in the way of His love for us.  But there are some sorrows that come as a part of life – that can consume us.  We sometimes can’t seem to escape them, no matter much we try, or how long we try.  The lowest point of our lives – can become a  a pit – that seems impossible to escape in our own strength or will.  No words could ever describe that place.  Strengthen me according to your law – this is the Word of God.  The psalmist had the law – the Torah – we have the whole thing - the promised Savior – the filling of the Holy Spirit – the victory in Christ Jesus.  The devil uses sorrow – to bring despair – a giving up – a hopeless state.  But Jesus is the hope of the world.  Loss in Christ – is the place where your trust grows.  It’s where you learn to cast your cares on Him because He cares for you.  If you sense sorrow is trying to turn to despair, or if you know of someone who is struggling with sorrow and despair – stand in the gap for them.  We are strengthened according to His Word -  Pray His Word over them, pray His Word over you.  There are direct commands that God gives for us to choose or not choose - which means we choose not to.  Put on the Garment of Praise.  Isaiah 61:3 - To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion. To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.  In your time of deepest sorrow God has already appointed for you beauty out of these ashes.  He will anoint you with the oil of joy - He will give you the garment of praise - to dispel the spirit of heaviness that is trying to consume you.  Put on that garment of Praise - let God decide how and when to bring the beauty and how to administer the oil.  Nehemiah commanded the people - Nehemiah 8:10 ... Do not grieve – for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  He said, eat and drink, rejoice in the LORD your God - focus on what He has done - Give to others - share with those who have less than you.  To rejoice is to take joy again.  Rejoice can be your choice - even in the deepest sorrow.  God will deliver you from every spirit of despair.  Sorrow which turns you to Christ – is what God can use and turn for your good.  Sorrows that lead to despair – are those deceitful ways that David asks God to keep him from.  God said David encouraged himself in the LORD - turning his eyes to Him - to praise, to trust, to declare.  God will turn even this sorrow to victory in your life.  He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.  He has beauty for you, not ashes, He has the oil of joy for you, not mourning, He has praise for you, not heaviness.  Sorrows will come – but He turns them into joy.  He has overcome every sorrow.  He took them for you – carried them for you – they died with Him  - so you can be free.  Praying that you will always look to Him and the Good that He brings – that sorrows which come - would be only the temporary experience that brings another proof of His deliverance.  Weeping may last for a night – but joy comes in the morning.  Praying that you will not grieve, that you will take joy every time - that you will choose praise every time - so the oil of His presence can flow through you. 

Love you all,
dad