Your Sorrow Will Turn Into Joy

“You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”
John 16:20

What is sorrow? It is a grief, a sadness about a misfortune experienced or which is ongoing. Sorrow has one more contextual meaning that denotes a disappointed state of mind. Everyone who is unhappy might not be sorrowful, but one who regrets because of a disappointment is in sorrow.

The Bible says in Psalm 126:5, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” This is a promise that is given to all who believe in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, let’s take a look at one of the most significant women of God found in the Bible. Hannah was happy with her husband, but she had sorrow about being barren. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 1:7, “So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.” Her sorrow was really bitter and she was carrying it for a very long time. Being in such a disappointment, she went to worship God.

She poured all her heart at the feet of God. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 1:18, “Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” After pouring out her soul in prayer to the Lord, she was no longer in sorrow. This was a great sign of transition from sorrow to her pinnacle of joy. Once she got her baby boy, she saw her sorrow turned to joy, cuddling in her bosom. Praise the Lord!

We have so many witnesses in the Bible who demonstrate the mighty works of Lord that have turned their sorrow into joy. We even come across many sorrowful situations in our own lives too. But, we have to examine ourselves whether we take our sorrows to the feet of the Lord or seek a momentary solace from people. Hannah had a wonderful and a loving husband and he never let her down and always spoke consoling words to her. However, she knew that her ultimate comfort would come only from God above.

Are we looking for worldly solace during failures and hardships? Then it is time to contemplate and come back to the presence of God. Certainly, there are genuine and lovable souls with us to comfort us. But for a believer, the ultimate and complete consolation comes from the God Almighty. The Bible says in Psalm 84:5, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you (God).“ King David practised looking upon the Lord throughout his life irrespective of his circumstances (Refer Psalm 27:1). Though Saint Paul had perilous experiences in his Christian journey (Refer 2 Corinthians 11:26), he never ceased to serve the Lord finding his sorrows turning to joys with the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Throughout the Bible, we see the hand of God in the lives of those who looked upon Him constantly. These men and women of God shine as examples to glorify the name of God and to inspire us in this Christian journey. If you are sorrow, take it to God before you take it to anyone else. When Priest Eli looked at Hannah he could only see her lips moving, but God saw her heart that kept pouring. It was enough for Him to turn her sorrow into joy and her mourning into dancing.

We see a lot of disheartening things happening around us. As believers, if we raise our hands towards the Lord, we shall definitely see our sorrow transforming into joy.