https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ImportanceOfSorrow.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Life doesn’t remain the same – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8<\/p>\n
A. There are different seasons, which brings different needs<\/p>\n B. No one likes to cry, but life isn’t always going to be rosy. Sorrow has a place in\nour lives.\n
C. The wise know that we need to think about sorrow – Ecclesiastes 7:4<\/p>\n
II. Hard times will come<\/p>\n
A. When Israel sinned, God tried to stop them – II Chronicles 36:15-16<\/p>\n 1. He was only left with destruction to stop the slide into sin – II Chronicles\n36:17\n 2. Jeremiah was the prophet of that time. He wrote an entire book expressing\nthe sorrow of God and his own – the book of Lamentations\n
B. Consider the number of Psalms that express sorrow<\/p>\n
1. Psalms 6 expresses sorrow caused by enemies<\/p>\n
2. Psalms 51 expresses sorrow for having sinned<\/p>\n
3. About a third of the Psalms are expressions of sorrow<\/p>\n
a. Has God forgotten me? – Psalms 13:1<\/p>\n
b. I have no friends – Psalms 88:18<\/p>\n
C. Yet, those hardships train us – Hebrews 12:11<\/p>\n
III. Sorrow helps keep our perspective – Ecclesiastes 7:2<\/p>\n
A. Death is a reality of life<\/p>\n
B. We are going to have troubles with health – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7<\/p>\n
C. Jobs will be lost and the economy will not always be stable<\/p>\n
D. I can do all things through Christ – Philippians 4:11-13<\/p>\n
E. With faith in God, we are not down to stay down – II Corinthians 4:8-9<\/p>\n
IV. Sorrow doesn’t last. You can look forward to being happy again – Ecclesiastes 7:3<\/p>\n
A. Sadness reminds us of our need for hope<\/p>\n
B. Rejoicing in grace and rejoicing in tribulation- Romans 5:1-5<\/p>\n
C. We sorrow when someone dies because we are separated from them<\/p>\n 1. But we can also find comfort that the troubles for a Christian is replaced\nwith rest – Revelation 14:13\n
2. We don’t grieve as the world because of our hope – I Thessalonians 4:13<\/p>\n
V. Sorrow connects us to others<\/p>\n
A. Jesus told mourners that comfort is awaiting – Matthew 5:4<\/p>\n B. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we don’t fear – Psalms\n23:4\n
C. Nothing can separate us from God’s love – Romans 8:31-39<\/p>\n
D. Jesus is always with us – Matthew 28:20<\/p>\n
E. It connects us to God and to each other – II Corinthians 1:3-4<\/p>\n
F. We are to be sympathetic – Romans 12:15<\/p>\n
G. We bear each others burdens – Galatians 6:2<\/p>\nVI. I remember talking to a brother years ago. He avoided singing a song that dealt with\nfinancial problems. “My life is good. I don’t have those problems. Singing those words\nwould be dishonest.” I simply asked, “And what will you sing when the hard-times do\ncome?” For they are bound to come and it will be good to sing songs that express those\nhardships.\n
A. There is a place for sorrow in our lives<\/p>\n
B. The world tries to avoid it. <\/p>\n 1. The denominations tend to focus on positive messages and uplifting songs\nbecause they are popular with people\n
C. There are times when songs of joy are not fitting – Psalms 137:3-4<\/p>\n D. It is good to know the songs of lament and good to reminds ourselves by singing\nthem\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8 I. Life doesn’t remain the same – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 A. There are different seasons, which brings different needs B. No one likes to cry, but life isn’t always going to be rosy. Sorrow has a place in our lives. C. The wise know that we need to think about sorrow –…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[652,391,182],"class_list":["post-54490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-grief","tag-sorrow","tag-suffering"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7454,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/they-that-mourn\/","url_meta":{"origin":54490,"position":0},"title":"They that Mourn","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some statements in the Bible present a paradox \u2013 seemingly conflicting ideas that are both true. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Such is present in Matthew 5:4 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To be blessed is to be given cause to be happy. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To mourn is to be sad II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jesus was not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24919,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/advice-to-young-men\/","url_meta":{"origin":54490,"position":1},"title":"Advice to Young Men","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2:6-8 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the Seattle Weekly, August 21, 2002, Philip Dawdy wrote an article titled \u201cWhat Little Boys Are Made Of\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The thrust of the article is that school systems are biased against the way boys generally behave. 85% of the students in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50484,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-continue-to-drift-aimlessly-through-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":54490,"position":2},"title":"Why continue to drift aimlessly through life?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 25, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Jeffrey, You wrote once that\u00a0suicide never solves anything. But putting that aside (because that comes with its own baggage), what if all you ever were meant to do was accept Jesus authentically and be saved -- that's all God ever had planned for you? There is no other\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52519,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-not-sure-if-my-thoughts-are-sin\/","url_meta":{"origin":54490,"position":3},"title":"I’m not sure if my thoughts are sin","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I saw a website that makes going to heaven seem really difficult. I have religious OCD and I get blasphemous thoughts constantly and repent all day long. Some of the thoughts feel like I want them. What should I do? If I'm not sure if my thoughts are really\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53350,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-repent-but-every-week-i-go-out-party-and-get-drunk\/","url_meta":{"origin":54490,"position":4},"title":"I repent, but every week I go out, party, and get drunk","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ, I have a problem. I am saved, well I think I'm saved. I repent every week after drinking and partying with friends. After a night of binge drinking, I wake up the next day feeling very anxious and thinking that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":86112,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-house-of-mourning\/","url_meta":{"origin":54490,"position":5},"title":"The House of Mourning","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Leon Mauldin I attended a funeral today in Cullman County, Alabama, for the brother of one of our members of the local church. As I looked around the cemetery among the tombstones, I saw several markers for some for whom I have conducted services. Such occasions furnish opportunities for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54490\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}