Introduction: Because of crises or failures, the heart can be filled with sadness and fall under severe affliction. State that can even cause diseases and bad decisions that end up darkening life.
It is there where we must seek God, strengthen ourselves in his presence and believe in his power, because he has not changed he rises up in favor of his children…
How to overcome sorrow and sadness – Bible
Results of sadness or affliction in a person, Job 42:10.
“And the LORD removed Job’s affliction, as he prayed for his friends; and he doubled all the things that had been Job’s”
Note 1: As we know Job’s affliction came on different fronts, he lost his family, his well-being and health, and all his assets. Here the Scripture tells us that “the Lord took away the affliction of Job” God allowed it, the devil brought it and the Lord took it away.
During all that time Job’s heart was heavy and sad at the difficult circumstances of his life. Affliction produces great losses, the fruit is lost, let us remember here that affliction also means misery, we see that Job lost almost everything.
“Those who dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction and in irons; Because they were rebellious to the words of the Lord, and hated the counsel of the Most High. Because of what he toiled to break their hearts, they fell and there was no one to help them.”
It teaches us that affliction brings brokenness, hard work without good results, fruitless fruit. He also says that “they fell, and there was no one to help them” this is setbacks on the way, impediments to advance, and loneliness in which no one helps.
The affliction or sadness of heart leads the person to barren ground and painful falls. Thank God that Jesus Christ is a restorer par excellence, he lifts up the fallen and returns his blessing, it is more like he did with Job “he doubled all the things that he had in the beginning”.
How to be free from affliction and sadness?
Note:
The context of the passages we have read shows us how to get out of that state of affliction, and break the chains of sadness:
a) Recognize with humility of heart the own condition: Job 42:5-6.
“By hearsay I had heard you; but now my eyes see you. Therefore I hate myself, and I repent in dust and ashes”
Where “I hate” means to disdain, cast off and cast off what is sin in me. That’s why he adds and says: “I repent.” Identifying our sin and repenting is the first step out of affliction.
b) Cry out to God (Psalm 107:13a “Then they cried out to the Lord in their distress”). In general, anguish produces a cry to God, and he mercifully listens and helps his children.
c) Believing in the power of God (Psalm 107:13b-14 “He delivered them from their afflictions. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their prisons”).
Let’s see the three actions of the Lord in response to the cry: “He freed them from their afflictions” “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death” and “He broke their prisons”.
It is God who liberates, it is who takes his children out of the well or from the prison of affliction and breaks their prisons (the word prisons is translated from the Hebrew “mosér” which also means: bondage, punishment, chain). It is Christ who breaks the chains, for he came to bring freedom to the captives.
d) Praise the Lord (Psalm 107:15 “Praise the mercy of the Lord, and his wonders toward the sons of men”).
One of the things that affliction does is steal or destroy the life of worship and praise of God. Affliction consumes joy and strength to praise the Lord. It is necessary to return to praise, and raise your voice announcing to principalities and powers that Christ reigns, that he fights in favor of his people, and that he establishes his power and government in the midst of his enemies. He is God over all things.
and) Persevere and trust in the blessing and power of God (Genesis 41:51-52).
“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh; because God (he said) made me forget all my work, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second he called Ephraim; because God (he said) made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Note 1:
Joseph lived through very difficult stages in his life, and when he arrived in Egypt, God protected him and prospered him in everything he did. But he was a slave of Potiphar, and later he was a prisoner of the king. Yet he says, “God made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Joseph had to forgive his brothers.
Note 2:
Hidden and hidden resentment in the heart may not be seen by men, but it is a factor that leads a person to grief. That is why it is necessary to forgive from the heart.
Give up what you allowed or gave power to the darkness to come to harm. It is necessary to renounce what led the heart to be under the shadow of death, and with the authority of Christ break the ties and chains of affliction.
Conclusion:
God desires the freedom and healing of his children. Jesus Christ has come to break the chains of affliction, and destroy the powers of darkness that afflict the family and devour God’s blessing.
Written by Pastor Gonzalo Sanabria.
How to overcome grief and sadness.
