Month: March 2024

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On the other side of sadness is joy!

I am not advocating sadness, nor have I done an exhaustive study of the topic. I just want to share, with whoever wants to read, what I have learned over the course of my wonderful 77 years.

Sadness is not an attractive emotion that should be welcomed. We like to be in control, which is why we feel better with anger. Sadness makes you feel powerless, while anger gives you the wrong feeling of power.

The wisest man who ever lived has a lot to say about sadness, but I’ll just borrow one of his verses.

“Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.” (Ecclesiastes 7:3 NLT).

Sadness is a passive emotion, however, every emotion has two sides. Sadness has a positive side, as well as a dark side.

The dark side is what I call discouragement. You fall into a state of helplessness and give up, you see no way out.

The positive side of sadness, I call it, a subtle tutor. This is the lesser known side. It is a way to prepare ourselves to be filled with great unexpected joy. The Apostle explains it like this:

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT).

We always face both sides, you decide which one to choose. Jesus is the Man of Sorrows, that is why we can run to Him with our sadness, because He understands our feelings.

When we go through a valley of sadness, we can better calm our minds. And our train of thought can perceive the richness of knowledge that God is communicating to us. Sadness is not my home, it is only a temporary guardian.

“For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NET).

“.. you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy.” (John 16:20 NET).

This is my Story! What’s Yours?

Continue reading “The Lesser Known Side of Sadness”

Every time I feel overwhelming joy, I realize that it is a strong resource of resilience and prepares us to face a trial. Joy employs in us a resilience from above to face the fury of the weapon that has been formed against us.

Joy has its own fort and is so powerful that it can change your mood in a split second.

Nehemiah (8:10) told his people that the joy of the Lord is their strength. And he shows that a joyful person also gives gifts to those in need.

Furthermore, the wisest man in the world says that “a happy heart beautifies the face”; (Proverbs 15:13a). And he does not stop there, he continues stating: “A happy heart is a good remedy”; (Proverbs 17:13).

The reason joy is powerful is because it is a virtue of the fruit of the Spirit, which grows in the believer’s life as he fellowships with other believers.

This is my Story! What’s Yours?

TRADUCIDO A ESPAÑOL

La notable resiliencia de la alegría

Cada vez que siento una alegría abrumadora, me doy cuenta de que es un fuerte recurso de resiliencia y nos prepara para afrontar una prueba. El gozo emplea en nosotros una resiliencia desde arriba para enfrentar la furia del arma que ha sido formado contra nosotros.

El gozo tiene su propio fuerte y es tan poderoso que puede cambiar tu estado de ánimo en una fracción de segundo.

Nehemías 8:10, le dijo a su pueblo que el gozo del Señor es su fortaleza. Y demuestra que una persona alegre también da regalos a los necesitados.

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Además, el hombre más sabio del mundo dice que “un corazón alegre embellece el rostro”; (Proverbios 15:13a). Y no se queda ahí, continúa afirmando: “Un corazón alegre es un buen remedio”; (Proverbios 17:13).

La razón por la cual el gozo es poderoso es porque es una virtud del fruto del Espíritu, que crece en la vida del creyente a medida que tiene comunión con otros creyentes.

¡Esta es mi historia! ¿ Cual es la tuya?

“The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.” (Proverbs 20:29 NLT).

The beauty of my youth is as pale as the gleams of last April, compared with the full splendor of summer.

This is my old age: The Splendor of Summer. They call it “The Golden Age” for a reason! ‘Tis the season to get comfortable with who you really are.

By now you will have made peace with your appearance. And therefore, there is no need to hide those wrinkles that are not hard due to bitterness. But they are soft because of the sweetness of a heart given to the Lord.

Your silver hair speaks of wisdom gained throughout a full life. So the combination of your pleasant face and your silver hair is a source of hope for the emerging generation.

I have decided to enjoy my journey on this earth until the last drop of my existence. And for this I have borrowed as my own the Apostle’s declaration:

“But none of these things deter me. Nor do I count my life of value to myself, so that I may joyfully finish my course and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 MEV).

This is my gratitude to God for giving me 77 years of life on this earthly pilgrimage.

This is My Story! What’s Yours?