Day 256 - When You’re Sad

Emily Green

“My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! 5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and 6 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you—even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. 7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. 8 But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life. 9 “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” 10 Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” 11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God!” - Psalm 42:4-11 NLT

“Sadness” is the state of being sad, meaning you feel or show sorrow or unhappiness. In Psalm 42, David writes about the sadness he’s experiencing. He asks questions like “Why am I discouraged?” and “Why is my heart so sad?” If you’ve ever experienced sadness, you’ve probably found yourself asking similar questions.

What I love about Psalm 42 is that, even though David is experiencing extreme sorrow, he still reminds himself to hope in God. He doesn’t shy away from his feelings or try to pretend he’s not sad. He owns it, yet he knows that this will not be forever.

Sadness, like all emotions, is fleeting. While it may seem like it will never go away, know that God has great plans for you! When you’re sad, remind yourself to put your hope in God. Hope brings assurance that things will get better. Praise God, even if your current circumstances don’t constitute it. Remember what we said about joy? Joy comes from praising God in the middle of our sadness!

Instead of remembering how things used to be, remember who God is and what He has for you in the future. John 16:20 says that even though we’ll grieve, our “grief will turn to joy!”



Next Steps

  • Think about it: What am I sad about? Why?

  • Action Step: Write down what you’re feeling sad about. Then, thank God for something good He could do in the future for each item.