Rejoicing and Weeping

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

 

 

I am not easily angered.

I know the pain of loss.

I know the joy of the blessings God has given me.

I am not prone to real depression but I have experienced sadness that I would not ask for again.

Everyone will experience these emotional ups and downs. When they all happen in a short span of time it can be hard to know how to respond to each. Should the things I am weeping over keep me from rejoicing in other things?

Over the last few weeks there has been plenty for me to weep about but also plenty to rejoice over. Some are things that are happening to me personally while others are happening to those I love and respect — those I want to care for and encourage. Sometimes I get off the phone or walk away from a visit and wonder if I have done more harm than good. I interact with people like I write – I just say it. Maybe I should listen more, pray more, and talk less.

Weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice can be spiritually challenging. It’s easy to get so caught up in someone else’s grief or joy that I may say too much about it to a third party. Is it gossip if I am seeking wise counsel? OR, is that an excuse for my giving another person too many details about the joys or sorrows of others?

Even to the one who is rejoicing or weeping I wonder if I speak too soon? It is hard to rejoice too much but it can be tricky with weeping. I don’t want to butt in but I can get so caught up in wanting the person to have a biblical response to problems that I fear I fail to let them work through things with the Holy Spirit directing them. He does such a better job at these things than I do! (OR, is He using me to help direct?)

Romans 12:12 is great direction for these questions. It says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Every Christian has the hope of eternal life, of a future much better than our present set of circumstances. I can rejoice with them in that, no matter whether they are weeping or rejoicing.

Every Christian (and everyone else) will face tribulations that require patience. The hard things in life never last longer than God needs them to in order to accomplish His purposes but it can feel like an eternity as we go through them. This patience can (should!) also be exercised by those who want to be encouragers by allowing God to do the work He wants to do without our (my) interfering before it’s time.

“Be constant in prayer,” this would help us all, wouldn’t it? If we can praise God when He gives good gifts to our friends and family, ask Him to be the comforter and keeper, the doctor or the source of hope for others when we are out of words or too far away to weep with them, He is faithful to answer our prayers. Sometimes I plan out the perfect way for God to resolve a problem and when He doesn’t use my plan I question Him.  When I play God He is faithful to remind me that His ways are not my ways and that His plans are better.

As for rejoicing and weeping, I’ve concluded that we should do both, openly and freely, with whomever God puts in our path — maybe doing both in the same day – maybe even the same conversation.