VICTORY OVER SORROW

Sorrow is rooted in Satan, the destroyer. He is the mastermind of pain, grief, and distress. Sorrow is one of the most destructive weapons the enemy uses against mankind. While joy gives strength (Nehemiah 8:10), sorrow weakens the soul and spirit, leaving people empty, depressed, and hopeless. Satan, the thief, is the root source of all sorrow, but Jesus Christ has come to give life and turn our sorrow into joy. John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Sorrow is a deep feeling of pain, grief, distress, or heaviness that comes as a result of losses, disappointments, afflictions, or unfulfilled desires. It is both an emotional weight and a spiritual burden that drains strength, steals joy, and hinders progress.

Sorrow is:

1. The breaking of the spirit Proverbs 15:13, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
2. The absence of joy which God originally designed for man Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
3. A tool of oppression by Satan Esther 4:3, “And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.”
4. A product of hopelessness in times of delay or loss Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”
5. A shadow of death that can lead to depression, despair, and even suicide 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Sorrow is the emotional and spiritual pain inflicted by Satan to disconnect man from the joy of God and paralyze his destiny.

SYMBOLS OF SORROW

1. Broken Spirit – “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13.
2. Weariness in Appearance – “Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” Nehemiah 2:2, “Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,”
3. Failure – “And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” (Joshua 7:5)
4. Losses – “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
5. Barrenness – “(30:1) And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.” (Genesis 30:1)
6. Disappointment – “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” (John 5:7)
7. Rejection – “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Psalm 27:10)
8. Broken Business – “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)
9. Unfulfilled Dreams – “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.” (Proverbs 13:12)
10. Waiting Seasons – “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:3)
11. Loss of Loved Ones – “33WhenJesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34Andsaid, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35Jesus wept.” (John 11:33-35)

All these can lead to depression, oppression, and in extreme cases, suicide (Esther 4:3; 1 Samuel 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

HOW TO HAVE VICTORY OVER SORROW?

1. Never lose the presence of God. Psalms 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

2. Invite the Holy Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” (Galatians 5:22) “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” (Isaiah 61:1), “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds.” (Philippians 4:7)
3. Have Godly and cheerful people around you, “9Twoare better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
4. Encourage yourself in the Lord, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6)
5. Be cheerful “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
6. Take practical steps (be intentional). “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)
7. Seek knowledge and counsel. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
8. Have faith in God. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). “22AndJesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” (Mark 11:22-23).

Sorrow is real, but it is not the will of God for His children. Jesus Christ came to replace sorrow with joy, mourning with dancing, and heaviness with gladness (Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 30:11). No matter the symbol of sorrow confronting you—loss, delay, barrenness, rejection, or unfulfilled dreams—the Word of God assures you that your sorrow shall be turned into joy (John 16:20). Therefore, stay connected to God’s presence, be filled with the Holy Spirit, surround yourself with godly people, encourage yourself in the Lord, and have faith in God. You shall overcome sorrow and walk in joy everlasting in Jesus’ Name.

Prayers

1. Lord, do not allow me to lose Your presence, for in Your presence there is fullness of joy.
2. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your fruit of joy and peace; bind up every brokenness in my heart.
3. Father, in every season of loss, delay, or disappointment, help me to encourage myself in You and not to give in to sorrow.” 1 Samuel 30:6 – “But David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
4. Lord, fill my heart with joy that sorrow and depression shall not have a place in me.
5. By faith, I command every mountain of sorrow in my life—loss, failure, rejection, or barrenness—to be removed in Jesus’ name.” Mark 11:23 – “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”