Sad Isn’t Bad

Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.

Ecclesiastes 7:3

Sad isn’t bad. This emotion points me in God’s right direction.

I figured I’d jump-start this devotion with a boost of hope. I need one today, and I wonder if maybe you do too.

I feel sad today. I woke up missing our beloved Fluffy, our kitty cat of fifteen years that sat in my lap every morning for Purr-and-Praise time, perfectly content. Fluffy was a daily reminder to ask God to help me learn that same kind of contentment and to trust Him to direct me through all the challenges of the day.

I miss my sweet mama even more. I miss our regular early-morning conversations. Even though we were hundreds of miles apart, those minutes on the phone brought her closer to me. I still catch myself wanting to show her things and tell her things, but I won’t see her again here on this earth. I miss Daddy, too. He gave me such good advice and loved people the way I want to. Although I feel so close to him when I’m in his Ford pickup, I wish I could roll back time and see him in the driver’s seat.

And definitely not least, I miss seeing my one-and-only daughter every day, even though I am so grateful she is thriving in college. My nest just looks too empty this morning. It is a gray, rainy day, which adds to my inner gloom.

You may be struggling with sadness too. The one truth that lifts my spirit is to know Jesus understands, has felt sadness over loss too, and is right here just as sure as my feelings. If life falls apart, He is enough.

Our sadness can bring us to Him. He reminds us that a better day is coming and that all our “present troubles are small and won’t last very long” in the scope of eternity. “Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Now that’s sadness turned into gladness! He is using my sad times and yours as well to refine us.

Sad isn’t bad when it opens your heart to let Jesus refine you. Ask God to show you something beautiful today, even as you deal with your sadness.