Emotions of Christmas – Sadness to Joy
Sadness is a natural part of life
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
Singing happy songs to a sad person is as foolish as taking a coat off on a cold day or mixing soda and vinegar. Prov. 25:20 ERV
Sorrow is to have a limited lifespan
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance Ec. 3:4
… weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. Deuteronomy 34:8
Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Joshua 1:2
Unconstrained Sadness leads to Melancholy and Despair
There are major consequences of prolonged sorrow
Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies … Deut. 28:47-48
- You cannot see clearly – your outlook is obscured
My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow … Job 17:7
- You cannot speak positively
I stayed quiet, not … saying anything good. And my sorrow grew worse. Ps. 39:2 NLV
- Unknowingly you feed your sorrow
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows … Ps 127:2
- Your spirit becomes broken
… by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13
The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit? Proverbs 18:14
A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren … lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
- You are put into a spiritual slumber
When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Luke 22:45
The remedy for sadness is the Joy of the Lord
Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” Neh. 8:10-11
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Is.35:10
Jesus bore our sorrows
He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. and we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we
esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:3-4
… I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” Jeremiah 31:25
Jesus taught
… you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Jn. 16:20-21
His disciples said
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: … as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Cor. 6:4,10
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
- You can see clearly – your outlook is positive
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. Jn. 3:29-30
- You speak positively
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23
The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: “Praise the Lord of hosts, For the Lord is good, For His mercy endures forever” Jeremiah 33:11
Joseph
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good … to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20
Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. 3:17-18
- You overcome your sorrow
To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15:13
- Your broken spirit is healed
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted … Luke 4:18
Instead of your shame you shall have double honor … they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs. Isaiah 61:7
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
- You regain your spiritual sensitivity and response
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, Lk.6:22-23
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:5
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:21
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15:13
Joy is one of the main characteristics of the Kingdom
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17