Sorrow or grief can be a devastating thing, unless it is handled correctly. Many people today, especially the baby boomers, are committing suicide at an alarming rate. Take a look at what the Bible says about this topic. It makes absolute sense when we understand it. Our grief can make us turn to God who can bring comfort, strength, hope and optimism.
"For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it--for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while-- I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter." 2 Corinthians 7:8-11
The Apostle Paul had written to these folks in 1 Corinthians about a sin that they were not dealing with and he was very blunt in his instructions to them in how to deal with it. In the second letter, the wrong has been corrected and now he desires them to move on to greater things. You see, the words on worldly sorrow are worth our consideration. This speaks of the hopelessness that folks feel when devastating things come into their lives.
A death in the family will often lead to an attempted suicide because they have no hope of seeing their loved one again. With Christians, it is totally different. When a Christian loved one dies, we are assured that we will join them in heaven when we die, so we have this hope that does not disappoint and so we can move on with our lives. No matter what hits us we can have confidence that God is in charge of the situation. Have you seen this in people around you. Have you ever wondered how your Christian friends can endure the trials of their lives and yet keep their heads high and have a peace that is beyond understanding? This is the very thing that Paul writes about here. If we deal with our trials according to God's word, we can endure anything. Believe me on this. I have endured horrific pain and weakness for the last five or six years and I still have my head on straight. He will do the same for you. You do not have to live a hopeless existence. Turn to the God of the Bible and He will lift you up. Here are just a few of His promises.
"Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:24
"Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness..." Psalm 33:18
"Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You." Psalm 33:22
"For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God." Psalm 38:15
"And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You." Psalm 39:7
"I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchman for the morning; indeed, more than the watchman for the morning." Psalm 130:5