“…sorrowful, yet always rejoicing…”
(2 Corinthians 6:10 NIV)
Sorrowful Yet Always Rejoicing?
In 2 Corinthians, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives us a window into the emotional life of believers in Jesus. In a world where we are expected to be constantly thriving and striving for happiness, whatever that may mean, the Bible paints a different picture.
This small collection of words out of one of the letters in the New Testament profoundly changed my perspective on my daily attitude. The Bible says it is possible to be both sorrowful and joyful at the same time!
We Are Sorrowful
The Bible tells a story of how God came to redeem our fallen world. Our world is fallen (Genesis 3)! It is soaked in sin and heaving under the weight of the curse. We feel the winds of evil all around, our hearts are darkened by storm clouds of sorrow, and we choke on the smoke of our own sin. There is true cause for sorrow in this world, and the Bible doesn’t belittle our pain.
We are sorrowful. We can be sorrowful.
Yet We Are Always Rejoicing
Yet, there is also always reason for those who trust in Jesus to rejoice. You have a Bible before you that tells the story of how God acted to redeem our fallen world and your sinful heart! Into our sorrow and suffering and sin, a Savior has come (Luke 2:10-11)! He has rescued us from the judgment our sins deserve, restored our relationship with God and opened to us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. He has redeemed our lives so that even the worst sufferings we endure will serve us in some way (Romans 8:28).
Those who have a relationship with God through Jesus experience his joy in every earthly pleasure and gift (James 1:17), in the myriad of spiritual comforts that come our way, and ultimately in his own fellowship (1 John 1: 3-4). We have joy—always—because we know Jesus.
The Disposition of the Christian Heart
The disposition of the Christian heart is more complex than we may imagine. God’s Word tells us that it is possible to be at the same time sorrowful and rejoicing.
May God’s Word give you rest today as you realize that joy is available to you through Christ even in your sorrow. And may you feel permission to grieve the evils of the world, even as you rejoice in the goodness of God. The redeemed heart is a holy place, beating with the hope that comes only from the Holy Spirit, and yet grieved over all that grieves our God.
Rest, friend. In all your sorrows, cry to Jesus. And in your joys, praise him. You don’t have to choose one or the other. You can be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”