Jesus had just told His apostles that He was going away. He knew their hearts were filled with great sorrow. They did not fully understand. Besides, their minds could not comprehend nor hear the full truth of the matter. So, He told them. “When I leave the Comforter will come. He will teach you all you need to know.” So, what about you when sorrow fills your heart? What are you to do? Or I? There is sorrow all around us and within. We look at the world, the wars, the bitterness, and the pain. Deep inside our hearts are filled with great, grievous sorrow. Yet, the Bible tells us to rejoice in Jesus Christ. How? When all around and within we see pain. When sorrow fills Your Heart, what are you supposed to do? How do you sincerely trust God when all you see, and feel is sorrow?
In Psalm 39, David determined to keep silent. After all, if he spoke all of what he felt it could be seen as a lack of faith. Indeed, it could bring dishonor to God. He certainly did not want that. God might see it as sin. Furthermore, those who heard his wails of sorrow and grief would be convinced God had failed David. Therefore, God could not be trusted. Or so they would think. For that reason, he kept silent.
I said, “I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue;
I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
While the wicked are before me.”
I was mute with silence,
I held my peace even from good; Psalm 39:1-2 (NKJV)
So, when sorrow fills your heart, are you to just keep it bottled up within to avoid sin? Let us see what happened next for David.
When Sorrow Fills Your Heart and You Are Silent
my sorrow was stirred up.
My heart was hot within me;
While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:
“Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah Psalm 39:2-5 NKJV
Holding it all in when sorrow fills your heart is not good either. It grew within David until he fully despaired of life. Just please tell me when I am going to die. Have you ever been there? I have. “Lord, I am tired. It has been a long journey. Are you taking me home?” That was my cry when facing grave illness and sorrow. Where was I to find the faith to sincerely trust God amid all the pain and sorrow of life? How do you step forward?
Well, first as David did, you take it to God. You cannot hide your sorrow from He who created you and loves you. When sorrow fills your heart pour out your heart to Him.
Second, When Sorrow fills Your heart confess all your sins.
Those sins that are known and those that are unknown. Ask forgiveness. Often, in ignorance we have marched on in life not recognizing the acts of pride and arrogance driving our own lives. We tend to overlook our own failures. While clearly seeing the failures of others. How often has it been a lack of faith that drove us to despair? David next recognized that whatever came into his life came from God. Therefore, it may have been God’s hand of correction reaching forth.
And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.
Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
I was mute, I did not open my mouth,
Because it was You who did it.
Psalm 39: 7-9 (NKJV)
Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. Psalm 39:10 KJV
With rebukes You punish a person for wrongdoing;
You consume like a moth what is precious to him;
Certainly all mankind is mere breath! Selah
“Hear my prayer, Lord, and listen to my cry for help;
Do not be silent to my tears;
For I am a stranger with You,
One who lives abroad, like all my fathers. Psalm 39:11-12 NASB
O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. Psalm 39:13 KVJ
What began as a bitter complaint against God for the depths of His sorrow, now became a plea for greater understanding. The plea of David transformed into his recognizing his own transgression leading to a separation from the full depth of God’s spirit. When we are in full communion with Him, sorrow cannot fully consume us. Instead, we recognize that underneath it all is God’s Sovereign Hand guiding us every step of the way.
When Sorrow Fills Your Heart, Wait
Psalm 40 follows up when Psalm 39 ended.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He reached down to me and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud;
And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.
How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the [c]proud, nor to those who become involved in falsehood.
Many, Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is no one to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count. Psalm 40:1-5
Study His Word, When Sorrow Fills Your Heart
David also knew that relief came in studying His word. And then, instead of silence preach His word to all of whom you meet. Sing of His wonder. To do that you must hide His word in your heart.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
It is written of me in the scroll of the book.
I delight to do Your will, my God;
Your Law is within my heart.”
I have proclaimed good news of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
Lord, You know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.
You, Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your mercy and Your truth will continually watch over me. Psalm 40:7-11 NASB
Does that mean all the original circumstances go away?
No! But how you see them changes.
For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My guilty deeds have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my heart has failed me.
Be pleased, Lord, to rescue me;
Hurry, Lord, to help me.
May those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my life to destroy it;
May those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.
May those be appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
May those who love Your salvation continually say,
“The Lord be exalted!” But I am afflicted and needy;
May the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my savior;
Do not delay, my God. Psalm 40:12-17 NASB
Now, in humility David sees that God is His answer and hope. He is his Savior and his help when overwhelmed with sorrow. He is your hope also when Sorrow fills Your Heart.
When Sorrow Fills Your Heart Seek God as the Fountain of Living Water
Just as you seek for a cool refreshing drink of water in a dry and thirsty land, seek the fountain of living water. Jesus is that fountain.
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
I remember these things and pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God,
With a voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival.
Why are in despair, my soul?
And why are you restless within me?
Wait for God, for I will again praise Him
For the help of His presence, my God. Psalm 42:1-5 NASB
Yes, the sorrows of this world, leave us parched. But He is the fresh brook of living water we need. Preach it to yourself every day. Remember the depth of grace you have been given. I must remember that in truth, I do not deserve the joy He gives me. Instead, I deserve the wrath He took for me on the cross. All I have has been an act of His grace toward me. So, what have I to worry and fret about? His light will guide me.
Send out Your light and Your truth, they shall lead me;
They shall bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And I will praise You on the lyre, God, my God. Psalm 43: 3-4 NASB
He is my joy.
So, to recap, when sorrow fills your heart:
- Do not moan and groan to the world. Nor go about with a sour face. And do not go about with a fake smile either.
- Call upon God who is your joy. Set aside time alone with Him.
- Tell Him all you feel and ask He open your eyes to know His way
- Read the word of God, seek His will
- Ask for forgiveness of your known sin and knowledge of your unknown sin before Him. He will reveal to you all you need to restore your joy in Him.
- Preach the truth to yourself and others. Use your past sorrows to tell others of His faithfulness through it all.
- Seek Him as a deer searching for fresh water in a dry and parched land. He will provide all you need. Only He can give you true joy.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:7-11 KJV
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible.
BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)
The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.
New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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