This summer, we are going to be doing a series of posts where we'll be looking at verses or passages in the Bible and digging deep into them to see what they mean and what God is saying to us through them. As I picked up my Bible a few nights ago, I found myself in the book of Ecclesiastes. I read through some verses until I got to Ecclesiastes 7:3 which stuck out to me.
This verse (KJV) says, "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better." Wow. That is not exactly how we tend to look at life, is it? In fact, we usually look at it the opposite. No one wants to be sad; everyone wants to laugh. No one wants to be in down in the valley; everyone wants to be on the top of the mountain. Why does God say this in His Word when He is the God of joy?
Do not take this verse the wrong way. It can be easy to get confused by what the Bible says, and that is why it is so important that we read it with the Holy Spirit as our guide. He is Who teaches us all things. That is one big reason I wanted to start this series is that I love studying the Bible, and I want my readers to feel the same way.
God is not saying He wants us to be unhappy. He's not saying we should never laugh. What is He saying then? God loves seeing us happy, but a lot of times (most times really), the moments in our lives when we make progress and become a better person of faith is when we are going through trials. I can honestly say that about my own life.
Moving schools, losing my cousin to Cystic Fibrosis, my first breakup, all of these were really hard times in my life. In each of them, I had to rely on Jesus and Jesus alone for my hope. I really dug into His Word and what His promises to me were. I am where I am in my walk with Christ today because of those difficult times, so when I read that verse, it really spoke to me personally.
My sorrow did make my heart better, but this was because it made me pursue God more than I was pursuing anything else. If you are dealing with something hard right now, take a look at Ecclesiastes 7:3. God is molding your heart to make it better and stronger. The laughter will come, I promise. You just gotta lean on the Lord, and let Him heal that sorrow and transform your heart.
