In his book "Created for His Glory" Jim Berg says.. As you try to help those in our day who are despairing, please understand the difference between "sorrow" and "despair." Sorrow is the emotion of loss--the awareness that something has gone bad and isn't the way it was meant to be. It is the reminder that an essential of life is missing. It is the echo within our hearts that we were made for something better. It is a legitimate pain of the soul-a grief. Jesus experience sorrow in the garden.
(Matt. 26:37-28 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Jesus was not depressed here: He is not despairing. Depression and despair are accompanied by hopelessness, disinterest, and often self-pity. Jesus is experiencing sorrow. It is not a sinful emotion. On the contrary, it is a legitimate emotion. Those who sorrow, however, must beware since sorrow turns to despair when there seems to be no end, purpose, or remedy to the sorrow. When sorrow is laced with self-pity-when the thoughts are turned inward in wound licking and outward in finger pointing. Then sorrow becomes corrupted with the poison of the flesh, and despair is the result.
We have such an epidemic of depressed people in our country. Many are letting their sorrows turn into despair. Beware. This book is a great read. He also has a book called "Changed into His likeness," this book changed my life! I recommend them both.
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