Valuing Sorrow

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1. Sorrow can be a good friend

Three ways:

1. Sorrow causes us to reflect on people God cares for deeply

2. Sorrow leads us to repentance for sins against God

3. Sorrow moves us to see God as the only hope for joy

2. Jesus didn't just feel sorrow - He took action

- it's a painful thing to care about people

- primary reason for others' sorrow is their own sin

- only Jesus could deliver us from sin

- we can never escape sorrow as a Christian but we will escape ETERNAL sorrow

3. Sorrow and Holiness are linked together - II Corinthians 7:8-9

- the Gospel doesn't solve our sorrow - it teaches us to value it

- godly sorrow leads to repentance

- it exposes idols in our lives

"Sorrow proves God's faithfulness to us - and improves our faithfulness to Him." Augustine

4. We sorrow in hope - we hope in God

- Psalm 42:11 Hope in God and praise Him

- He is our help

- Steps on our path to follow/access hope - we should cultivate:

1. a soul thirsting for God (vss. 1-2)

2. a mind that remembers God and His promises (vss. 5-6)

3. a lifestyle that allows for Godward reflection (vss. 9-11)