Bible, Emotions, Emotional Health, depression, Sadness, Sad, Grief

God's Purpose For Your Sadness

When it comes to our emotions, there are clearly some that we’d like to experience more than others. But truthfully, life can get heavy sometimes. When sadness shows up, it can often function as a warning light illuminating things that need to be addressed in our hearts. In this video, we’ll explore God’s purpose for sadness, how we can learn from it, and how to process sadness in a healthy way.

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MESSAGE NOTES

1. Sadness is a sign – address it.  We don’t ignore sadness, we feel it. 

 

[John 16:33]

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

 

[Lamentations 1:18]

“The Lord is right,” Jerusalem says,“for I rebelled against him. Listen, people everywhere; look upon my anguish and despair,for my sons and daughters have been taken captive to distant lands.”

 

[John 16:19-21]

“Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.”

 

Some unhealthy responses:

• Denial – simply ignore our sadness.
• Minimizing – admit something wrong but in such a way that it appears less serious than it actually is.
• Intellectualizing – giving analysis and theories to avoid dealing with them.
• Distracting – allow something else to occupy our time and thoughts.
• Medicating – unhealthy addictions or other ways to numb our pain.
[Ecclesiastes 3:4]
“A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.” 
Pay attention to your feelings.  Emotions are the language of our soul!

Signs of depression to look out for:

• Emotional – constant sadness, guilt and hopelessness. (See Christian counselor or therapist) 
• Behavioral – social withdrawal, lack of energy, low motivation, poor concentration, sleep problems, significant shifts in appetite (See Christian counselor or therapist)
• Thoughts – poor self-esteem, self-pity, suicidal thoughts, loss in regular activities. The difference in sadness and depressing is the crippling/paralyzing thoughts (See Christian counselor or therapist) 

 

Causes of depression to look out for:

• Medical – Hormonal imbalance (low Serotonin or thyroid),  learning of a medical diagnosis – cancer (See a doctor)
• Genetic – People who have a family history of depression are more likely to experience depression.
• Environmental – postpartum, sexual and physical abuse, substance abuse
• Spiritual – Guilt, unforgiveness, bitterness, disobedience and anger.
2. Sadness is a teacher – learn from it. We’re not overcome by our sadness, we lean into it and look for hope.
[1 Thessalonians 4:13-14]
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”
[Ecclesiastes 7:2-4]
“Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.”
[Romans 8:22-23]
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”
3. Sadness can be heavy – share it. We’re not overcome by our sadness when we share it.   

[Matthew 26:36-38]

“Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

 

[Matthew 11:28]

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?

When it comes to our emotions, there are clearly some that we’d like to experience more than others. But truthfully, life can get heavy sometimes. When sadness shows up, it can often function as a warning light illuminating things that need to be addressed in our hearts. In this video, we’ll explore God’s purpose for sadness, how we can learn from it, and how to process sadness in a healthy way.

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