We are encouraged to be joyful. We are exhorted to hope. But no one wants to feel sadness. I watched the Pixar movie, Inside Out, last night. (Am I the only person who gets biblical lessons from Disney/Pixar movies?) As Christians we quote Paul, “Rejoice in all things”. Sometimes, it can seem as if our message is “sadness is a lack of faith.”

But God has given us the sadness emotion just as he has given us joy. Both for two distinct purposes. Joy causes us to move forward, to endure difficult times, to be contagious.

But it’s sadness that allows us to be comforted by the Father. It is in sadness we find a deeper level of intimacy with the Father as He draws near. There is nothing more sweet than crying with Jesus, feeling His embrace as He wipe tears from your eyes, and whispers, it is going to be okay.

In your sadness, call upon the Lord. Allow Him to restore your joy. Allow Him to give you hope!

I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” (Lamentations 3:55-57 NIV)