“We can allow the darkness to overtake us and carry our bag of sorrows like a medal of honor. Or we can allow God to heal our hearts.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 3, 2023
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5
As we go through life, we carry many things with us–memories of our first loves, the day we got married, the births of our children, and overall life experiences–both happy and sad. Inevitably, we will also carry hurts and losses–deaths of loved ones, broken relationships, job loss, wayward children. The list can go on and on. Whether it’s intentional or not, we begin to carry our bag of sorrows.
It becomes a place where all the losses and disappointments in life get tucked away. One day, you turn around, and you feel the overwhelming heaviness of that bag. The weight of it all comes upon you because you’ve allowed that bag of sorrows to overtake you.
You wake up, and without realizing it, your heart is no longer as light, happy, or fulfilled as it once was. You may stop doing the things you once loved and soon become Mr. Grumpypants to those you claim to love.
Relationships that were once so important have been pushed to the side. You avoid those closest to you, no longer reaching out but running in the other direction. Instead of seeing love, care, and support, you now seem to view things through a darkened lens caused by the unhappiness in your world.
All of this is a culmination of carrying around our bag of sorrows. Understandably, these hurts can change a person. As a mother who has lost a child, it’s often been said that we are never the same people we once were. True, but I also don’t want my heart to harden to the point where I’m pushing away all the happiness and joy life can offer. We are still here, and God isn’t finished with us yet.
We can allow the darkness to overtake us and carry our bag of sorrows around like a medal of honor. Or we can begin to allow God to heal our hearts and let the joy of the Lord be our strength. Allow Jesus to come and minister to you. Hurt and loss come in many forms. Whatever your situation, there is nothing too difficult for God. Share with Him all your sorrows, then move forward, taking all the good with you. Remember the love more than the loss.
Instead of carrying our bag of sorrows around, let’s consider laying them aside. Let God begin to heal the brokenness within. Don’t try to get your arms around it. Let God get His arms around you. He knows you’re suffering and will give you the comfort of His presence and the healing balm of His love.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for being my comforter and the healer of my heart. I am forever grateful that I can give all my hurts and cares to you at any given moment. How reassuring it is to know you are our Father, friend, and forever our Lord and Savior.
Application
Call a friend today and make a date to share a cup of coffee. Share your heart with someone you trust.
Related Reading
Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 23:4; John 14:27; Ephesians 4:32
Worship Resource
Michael W. Smith: Friends
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