Is God disappointed in me for feeling sad?

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Today's Precious Prodigal's Post = http://bit.ly/247TNAn

Title: Is God disappointed in me for feeling sad? 

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‬Eccl 3:4 “…a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance”

It’s been just over a week since I had major surgery, and the recovery process isn’t going as quickly or as smoothly as I had hoped. Yesterday was a tough day, and I spent the entire day sad, weepy, and just generally feeling miserable. Much of that can be explained by the surgery itself, the aftermath of anesthesia, some ongoing pain, and the side effects of pain medication.

When you add in the weakness and frustration of not being able to do what I usually do and not sleeping well, you have the perfect equation for a case of the mulligrubs. And I had them in force. I’m usually upbeat and cheerful and able to see the humor in almost anything. Not yesterday.

Although nothing is drastically different today, I’m feeling better and asking myself why I was feeling so sad yesterday. The change in how I feel also brought to mind the question, “Is God disappointed in me when I’m sad?” If I know the Lord, shouldn’t I be cheerful and full of joy regardless of my circumstances?

Before I answer that, I want to stress that I'm not suggesting you and I are justified in walking around lamenting our circumstances, wringing our hands and complaining. Nor am I suggesting it’s ok to sing an endless rendition of “Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me.”

Having said that, I need to add that some days just “suck swamp water!” I mean some days are just tough and, no matter how much you love the Lord, those days aren’t going to be five-star banner days.

You lose your job, the biopsy is positive, you bury your soul mate, or your spouse tells you about his affair and that he’s leaving. And that’s just a random sampling of things that can go wrong on any given day. You probably have a list of your own. Those circumstances are heartrending enough by themselves without adding in the totally false concept that God is disappointed in you for being sad.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." Verse four of that same chapter tells us there’s a time to cry and mourn as surely as there is a time laugh and to rejoice. Life’s seasons come and go according to God’s plan, and our job is to accept where we are at any given time and to learn the lessons to be had there.

I can’t think of one time when Jesus berated someone for their tears. In fact, Scripture tells us that God knows our frame and remembers that “we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14). He knows that we are “bruised reeds” and has promised He will not break that bruised reed. And as for the tears? The day will come when He will “wipe away ever tear.” (Rev:21:4)

I’m thankful that I have a Savior who understands my tears even when I don’t and who wants me to just be myself, whether I’m happy or sad. In "Shade of His Hand," Oswald Chambers says, "When you are joyful, be joyful; when you are sad, be sad. If God has given you a sweet cup, don’t make it bitter; and if He has given you a bitter cup, don’t try and make it sweet; take things as they come."

Challenge for Today: What might happen if we, just for today, accepted that we are sometimes going to be sad and determined to “take things as they come?”