Grief and Sorrow: Changing Our Perspective

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

Grief and Sorrow are some the some of hardest emotions to face. They grip our souls and threaten to overwhelm every other area of our lives. Indeed, there are times when we can do nothing but weep in heartbreak. But grief and sorrow have a powerful affect in our lives. They have the ability to change our perspective on life.

Matthew 5:3 give clear reasoning to trust God in the midst of grief and sorrow. We shall be comforted. The Bible says that God is near to those who are broken hearted. (Psalm 34:18) He has a purpose and plan for each one of us. (Jeremiah 29:11). The overwhelming goal for every Christian is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). We don't just magically get transformed. We have to go through the process of growth. It has been said: There's no growth without change. No change without loss. No loss without grief. No grief without pain. Therefore, pain is the process that changes our worldview.

It is important to note that this change does not always turn out for the best. If grief and sorrow are not properly faced and worked through a soul can become embittered, disillusioned, or despondent. But if dealt with properly, grief and sorrow can make us better. It is the better that God is working in the life of those who have claimed Christ as Lord. Grief and sorrow have the capability to show us the realities of life.

Grief and sorrow can reveal to us that life is transient and unstable. The Bible says that we are but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14). When we go through such emotions, we realize that this world and the things and people in it are passing away. This can cause us to Live In View of Eternity. The eternal perspective about life is what really matters. When we gain an eternal perspective we will understand that the house of mourning is better than the house of feasting because the house of mourning is when we get a paradigm shift in our perspective.