{"id":1277,"date":"2010-10-10T01:00:25","date_gmt":"2010-10-10T01:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/10\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-is-there-a-place-for-sadness-in-authentic-christianity.html"},"modified":"2010-10-10T01:00:25","modified_gmt":"2010-10-10T01:00:25","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-is-there-a-place-for-sadness-in-authentic-christianity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/10\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-is-there-a-place-for-sadness-in-authentic-christianity.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Is There a Place for Sadness in Authentic Christianity?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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READ Psalm 6:1-10<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I am worn out from sobbing.
     All night I flood my bed with weeping,
     drenching it with my tears.<\/p>\n

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Psalm 6:6<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I
\ngrew up in a culture, church, and family that didn’t have much room for
\nsadness. If ever people in my life were feeling sad, it was my
\nresponsibility to “cheer them up.” As Christians, we knew we were
\nsupposed to “Rejoice in the Lord, always!” God was the one who wiped
\naway every tear. Thus, sadness was inconsistent, not only with our
\ncultural norms, but also with our understanding of authentic
\nChristianity. Real Christians were happy, not sad. They always had
\nsmiles on their faces. And they certainly didn’t drench their beds with
\ntheir tears.<\/p>\n

Of course, there was a problem with the cultural assumptions of my
\nearly years. People did get sad. And sometimes their sadness seemed
\nunavoidable, if not reasonable. Beloved friends and family members
\nmight get sick and die. Our nation watched as tens of thousands of our
\nyoung men died in Vietnam. Wasn’t it appropriate to feel sad sometimes?<\/p>\n

The notion that true Christians aren’t ever sad also stumbles upon
\nteaching and examples of Scripture. Many of the psalms, for example,
\nexpress deep sadness to the Lord, without sense of shame. In Psalm 6:6,
\nfor example, David prays, “I am worn out from sobbing. All night I
\nflood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.” Now that is
\nserious sadness, even if it does reflect a poetic use of hyperbolic
\nlanguage. <\/p>\n

If the Psalms are given to us to teach us how to communicate with
\nGod, then there is surely a place for sadness in authentic
\nChristianity. Scripture invites us to be honest with God, to share
\nwhat’s really going on inside of us. The Lord will carry our sorrows as
\nwe offer them to him, without hiding or pretending. <\/p>\n

Moreover, authentic Christian community includes a place for shared
\nsadness. Remember Paul’s instruction in Romans 12:15. We are to “be
\nhappy with those who are happy” and “weep with those who weep.” If
\nsomeone we care about is grieving, our job is not to “cheer them up,”
\nbut rather to join them in their sorrow, and in this way to bear their
\nburdens. As we do this, we come to know more deeply the heart of Jesus,
\nwho is “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isa 53:3).
\nMoreover, when we deal openly with our sadness, as well as the sadness
\nof others, we open our hearts to a deeper and fuller experience of
\nGod’s joy.<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION<\/strong>: Did your culture,
\nfamily, and church teach you about sadness? Are you free to share your
\nsorrows with the Lord? And with other believers? What helps you express
\nyour true feelings to God in prayer? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

PRAYER:<\/b>
\nThank you, merciful God, for the example of David in Psalm 6. Thank you
\nfor the invitation to speak with you honestly, not holding back our
\nsadness or desperation. <\/p>\n

Thank you, dear Lord, for hearing our prayers just as they are, for
\nwanting to have an intimate relationship with us in all of our
\nmessiness and confusion. <\/p>\n

Thank you, gracious God, for entering into our sorrow through Christ, for knowing the inside of sadness.<\/p>\n

Thank you, O God, for meeting us in our pain, for offering peace
\nthat passes understanding, for turning our mourning into dancing.<\/p>\n

Help us to be authentic in our relationship with you, sharing our
\ntrue thoughts, feelings, fears, and hurts. Help us to weep with those
\nwho weep so that we might also rejoice with those who rejoice. May your
\nchurch be a place of safety and freedom, where broken hearts are mended.<\/p>\n

We pray in the name of Jesus, the man of sorrows. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/i> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

READ Psalm 6:1-10 I am worn out from sobbing.     All night I flood my bed with weeping,     drenching it with my tears. Psalm 6:6 I grew up in a culture, church, and family that didn’t have much room for sadness. If ever people in my life were feeling sad, it was my responsibility to “cheer them…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Is There a Place for Sadness in Authentic Christianity? - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1277\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}