Sadness is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at some point in life. However, as Christians, our response to sadness should be shaped by biblical truths. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about dealing with sadness and sorrow:
Sadness is a natural part of life in a fallen world
Since the Fall in Genesis 3, pain, suffering and sadness have entered the world. We live in an imperfect world marred by sin, and as a result, all humans inevitably experience sadness (Genesis 3:16-19). Jesus himself was prophesied as a “man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). Followers of Christ are not immune to sadness and heartbreak in this life. The difference for believers is that we do not “grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
God understands and cares about our sadness
The Bible makes it clear that God is not distant or uncaring about our pain. Jesus was deeply moved at the grief of Mary and Martha when their brother Lazarus died (John 11:33-35). He feels compassion for our human weakness (Hebrews 4:15). The psalmists freely pour out their sad complaints and petitions to God, demonstrating that He welcomes our sincere laments (Psalms 13; 42; 88). We can cast all our anxiety on Him, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Sadness prepares us to comfort others
God often allows suffering in part to equip us to minister to others. Paul writes that the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort comforts us in our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When we receive comfort from God in our troubles, we are able to empathize with and comfort those around us. Sharing the comfort we’ve received allows us to mutually build one another up in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:6).
God’s word offers comfort in times of sadness
The Bible contains many precious promises and truths to encourage us in times of sorrow. God’s word is a rich resource to uplift downcast souls. Here are some examples of comforting scriptures:
Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147:3 – He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
John 14:1-4 – Let not your hearts be troubled…I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Romans 8:31-39 – Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious…let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.
James 1:2-4 – Count it all joy when you face trials…for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
1 Peter 5:10 – After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.
Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning
In Psalm 30, David recalls how the Lord brought him up from the depths of despair and “turned [his] mourning into dancing.” Though he wept bitterly at night, joy returned with the dawn. This psalm encourages us to hope in God even in deep affliction. With the Lord’s comfort, seasons of sadness will give way to joy again. As believers, we can patiently endure sorrowful nights because we know joy comes with the new mercies Christ provides each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
God uses sadness to refine and mold us
Though painful, sadness and grief can produce positive spiritual fruit in believers’ lives. Hardships are used by God to refine and sanctify His children (Isaiah 48:10; Zechariah 13:9; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Times of weeping can soften our hearts, develop Christlike compassion, teach endurance and perseverance, and bring about maturity in the faith (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). God sometimes uses adversity to discipline His children, produce repentance, or call us to deeper trust in Him (Psalm 119:67, 71; Hebrews 12:7-13). Thus, while sorrowful for the moment, trials are actually reasons for rejoicing because of how God uses them for our good (1 Peter 1:6-9; James 1:2-4).
Godly sorrow leads to repentance
There is a sadness according to God’s will that brings salvation – godly sorrow over sin. Paul writes: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we should feel godly sorrow that leads us to repent and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. This purifying, repentant sadness differs from merely human sadness that lacks hope or direction.
Jesus came to bear our sadness and grief
Amazingly, Jesus bore our griefs and sorrows on the cross so that we might have hope. Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” who “has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3-4). Jesus willingly suffered and died to free us from sin’s penalty and power – and its effects of pain and sadness due to living in a fallen world. Because of Christ’s victory over sin and death, our grief over suffering and loss is only temporary. For believers, seasons of sadness will one day end in God’s presence, where there will be no more sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).
In times of grief, pray boldly and honestly to God
The Bible demonstrates that it is perfectly acceptable to bring our honest lament, pain, and confusion to God in prayer. The psalmists cry out boldly in grief to God, asking “Why?” and pouring out feelings of abandonment during times of despair. We see their raw emotions in Psalms 13, 22, 74, 79, 80, and 89. Jesus himself cried out in anguish on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46). God welcomes our genuine expressions of grief – we do not need to hide our true feelings from Him.
Waiting on the Lord renews our strength when weary
Isaiah described a God who “gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29). When we are downcast or crushed, waiting on the Lord through prayer, reading His word, worship, and patient endurance will renew our inner strength. “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). God doesn’t instantly take away our trials, but He promises to renew our energy, hope and courage as we rely on Him day by day.
We should mourn with those who mourn
Part of bearing one another’s burdens in the body of Christ is mourning with those who are grieving (Galatians 6:2). We should seek to comfort and encourage fellow believers who are experiencing loss or pain. Jesus called His followers to mourn with those who mourn (Matthew 5:4). Paul instructs us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). The book of Job provides a great example of how Job’s friends came and mourned with him in his grief at the outset. We can show Christ’s love through small acts of care like meals, sending notes, gut-level empathetic listening, and simply sitting with and praying for the saddened.
God keeps all our tears in a bottle
There is comfort in knowing that even though we feel forgotten in grief at times, God collects and records all our tears. David prays in Psalm 56:8: “You tell my wanderings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” The Creator who fashions all stars knows exactly how many tears His children shed. We can find peace in bringing our hurts and bottled tears to our compassionate Father.
Joy comes from God’s presence
Lasting comfort and joy are not found in the temporary pleasures of this world. Enduring joy flourishes from God’s presence and the hope we have in Christ. “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6). As believers, we can rejoice in afflictions because we know trials are producing endurance, character and hope within us (Romans 5:3-4). The joy Jesus gives is not temporary, but remains with us even in the midst of tribulations (John 16:22).
We have hope and purpose in our sadness because of Christ
For followers of Jesus, periods of grief and tears are only for “a little while.” We have hope knowing that He will one day wipe away every tear and make all things new (Revelation 21:3-4). Our trials on earth are “light and momentary” compared with the eternal glory in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). We can find purpose even in our pain because God uses it to shape us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29). As we walk with God day by day through the valleys, He enables us to be a light reflecting the hope of the gospel to others (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).
Praise and worship uplift heavy hearts
When discouraged or sad, echoing songs and truths of praise can have a powerful impact on lifting our eyes from grief to the unchanging God. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11). Listing God’s praises and promises reminds us of blessings and hope when blindsided by affliction (Psalm 103). Singing praise is spiritual warfare against discouragement (Psalm 28:7). Even when our hearts feel too heavy to worship, by praising God we can still declare spiritual victory in the midst of trials (Psalm 13:6).
God redeems our suffering
Contrary to what our feelings tell us in times of intense grief, God does not allow any pain or sadness that does not have a redemptive purpose. Just as the agony of the cross produced life and salvation, God promises to use every trial believers face for good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). Suffering produces perseverance, character and hope within us (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:3-4). It gives us more capacity to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). It conforms us to the image of Christ and yields a harvest of righteousness (Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 12:11). One day we will see and rejoice in how beautifully God redeemed our seasons of grief.
Hope and joy are weapons against sorrow
Scripture instructs believers to actively wield hope, joy and praise as weapons to combat seasons of sadness. Romans 15:13 tells us “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” While grief and weeping come for the night, joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5). Nehemiah commanded mourning Israelites to instead rejoice over the goodness and faithfulness of God, and their joy became a strength in hard times (Nehemiah 8:10). Praise is spiritual warfare to lift downcast hearts (Psalm 28:7). Hope, praise and joy are powerful tools to lift us from grief into the very presence of God (Psalm 43:5).
Christ will one day wipe away every tear
Revelation 21:4 beautifully declares that for believers, one day: “[God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” All grief, depression, crying and pain are temporary for God’s children. Christ’s resurrection ensures that death itself, the ultimate cause of human mourning, will one day be vanquished forever. The day is coming soon when God will destroy all evil and suffering at the root, replacing them with eternal joy. This certain hope empowers us to endure grief and live for Christ in the present.
In conclusion
Sadness and mourning are expected parts of the believer’s journey through this sin-tainted world. However, as followers of Christ we do not need to be overcome with grief because we have amazing hope. Jesus came to destroy sin, death and their fruits of pain and sadness through His own suffering. God promises to redeem all the grief we experience in this life to make us more like Christ. He invites us to boldly bring Him our tears and sorrows in prayer. His word upholds and comforts mourners with incredible promises for both this life and eternity. One day our sorrow will end. Until then, we can courageously walk through seasons of sadness, sustained by God’s Spirit, His word, the support of His people, and a joyful hope in what is to come.
