Sorrow is an indicator of a loss of confidence in God. Can this statement be absolutely true or are there circumstances that allow for sorrow that is not a result of a loss of confidence in God. The first question we must ask ourselves is “is there anything that God cannot handle?” Clearly we must conclude that nothing is impossible for God. But what about something that catches God unaware or that was unexpected, does that have the power to leave you without His protection? Beloved, there is nothing that can catch God unaware. For the God whom I serve is fully aware of all things both past, present and future. His eye is upon all things at all times all at once. With this knowledge, there is nothing God cannot handle and there is nothing that will catch Him unaware then there is only one reason left that could cause us to have sorrow: We do not believe God is good. Again, friends, I must announce to you now that God is perfectly good and there is no wickedness in Him. There is no occasion possible that can move God to wickedness. As a matter of fact we could logically reason that just as darkness is the absence of light, wickedness is the absence of good, and more still, since God is light then the presence of wickedness must mean that God is not present. As the wickedness of men is unleashed upon creation, God is not present. The very presence of God in any form and any amount would by the nature of God disrupt the wickedness at some level. Jesus said about Himself that as long as He was in the world He is the light of the world. The Lord of glory goes on to tell us that we are the light of the world. As children of God and the bride of Christ we carry a deposit of the divine nature in the Holy Spirit making us ones that disrupt wickedness. If we at any time find that we are not disrupting wickedness then we ought to reasonably conclude that God is not with us at that time, He has withdrawn Himself.
Now let us again consider our opening statement: Sorrow is an indicator of a loss of confidence in God. In serving the Lord is there room for sorrow if we believe? Does not the Scripture speak of mourning? Does not the Lord Himself grieve? Are not tears a weapon of intercession of an invaluable worth? Are not these things the substance of sorrow? Is it not godly sorrow that leads us to repentance? Yes, and Amen to all. But can we not see that this sorrow in all instances requires that we turn to God? Even in the case of Jesus, His sorrow was for the purpose of coming to joy, was for the purpose of overcoming the flesh, and was for overcoming the weakness of man while waiting for the strength of God to manifest. Remember it is not the sorrow but the joy of the Lord that is our strength. Sorrow is the product of living in a fallen world that lies under the sway or influence of the wicked manipulator who has only his own interests in mind; a world that at every turn is working ceaselessly and tirelessly to break the human spirit, a world that squashes attempts at good and generosity and righteousness.
But what is the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow? While the latter longs for position above men, the former is looking for the favor and rule of God over all life. Sorrow comes for the ungodly when they find their flesh and mind dissatisfied. Sorrow comes for the godly when they recognize that their lives fall short of the righteousness and glory of God. The ungodly restrain themselves from almost no ends to achieve their goal. While the righteous use great restraint in order to see the goodness of God manifest itself in the land of the living, in the hope of a righteous world coming under the rule of a righteous king, namely Jesus. Godly sorrow is a holy disconnect between what God says and what man sees. In this place of believing by faith, it becomes necessary to exercise our agreement with the prophetic promises of God daily or we will lose confidence. The enemy of our soul does not relent in his desire to deceive us concerning these prophetic promises. Likewise, our Bridegroom God does not relent in His intercession to God for revelation of His beautiful nature to be revealed to His own. Why does Satan directly attack while Jesus simply intercedes? It would seem a much more effective strategy to aggressively and relentlessly destroy Satan and all wickedness than to ever live to make intercession for us. Scripture says concerning Jesus that He is to sit at the right hand of the Father until His enemies are made His footstool. Who is making light of the enemies? The Father; to whom Jesus is making intercession. What does His intercession sound like? Oh that we could hear the glorious sounds of Jesus’ intercession to the Father concerning us; the heavenly words, the display of emotions, the desire of His soul lay bare. We cannot imagine the zeal and power and wisdom of His endless cry to His Father for a pure and spotless bride. Father, I desire…, the John 17 prayer continued in the very throne room of heaven from a man passionately in love. The world is dark, full of wickedness and cruelty, yet unlike Noah’s day, God has become an everlasting man who can sympathize with our infirmities and is waiting…waiting…waiting. Wrath is delayed against wickedness and mercy is poured out like blood. How long O Lord will the wicked prosper, how long will you keep back Your return? Vindicate me Lord, for my life is falling apart, the world sits in accusation against me, my own household counts me a dog, yet You are my Rock. You are the brightness of my countenance, the strength in my bones and the life of my blood. Apart from You I can do nothing. Let Your silence end, strengthen my soul to perform Your will for my life.
One day the sky is going to roll up like a scroll at the command of a king. One day Jesus is going to descend from His place in heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, the trumpet of God, and all the dead in Christ shall rise and we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them (the dead in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is what all our preparation in this life is about! We are not preparing ourselves just to endure hardships, but to receive and be received by our glorious bridegroom. “The Spirit and the bride say come…” (Rev 22:17). In longing for this day we enter into godly sorrow, mourning for the bridegroom, knowing that there is nothing we can either gain or lose in this life that can compare to the glory of the age to come.
