Joy and sorrow always travel together as a pair. We can’t have one without the other. In fact, we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, and this could happen the very same day. How do we both rejoice and mourn with others when we may be experiencing the opposite of what they are experiencing?
In Ecclesiastes 3:4 we are told there’s a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time dance.
In Romans 12:15, we are told to celebrate with those who are celebrating, and we are to weep with those who are grieving. Wow, that’s hard to do sometimes, especially if we are the one who is grieving, and someone in our life has reason to rejoice and dance. It’s hard to muster up the ability to celebrate with others when you yourself may be going through a sorrowful time.
I’ve experienced the flip side too. I’ve been the one celebrating while someone else is grieving. This experience at times has left me feeling guilty that I have something to celebrate while someone I love is struggling with grief. It doesn’t seem possible to truly rejoice to the full extent when sorrow lurks around the corner.
On any given day, it can feel impossible to live out this biblical instruction, especially if we are experiencing the opposite.
How Then Can We Do Both?
We may experience a roller coaster ride throughout each day because this world is full of both joy and sorrow, but we are called both to celebrate with others when they are celebrating and to mourn with others when they are mourning. Believe it not, we can even do both in the same day.
Jesus never said rejoicing with others and mourning with others would be easy, but it is possible with Jesus. We can do both with God’s help.
Two Prayers
One prayer I’ve prayed for years is asking Jesus to fill my heart with His compassion for others. Compassion is the ability to sympathize with others when they are in distress. Asking Jesus to help me has produced a greater ability to have compassion for others. I see and feel things I never did before.
I’ve been amazed how Jesus has answered this prayer. I believe this is one prayer He always says YES to. He wants us to know how and when to sympathize with others so that we can mourn with them when they need us to. You’d be amazed what a sincere “I’m sorry” communicates to someone mourning.
Another prayer I’ve prayed for years is asking Jesus to fill my heart and mind with joy. Joy is experiencing great delight. Being filled with joy helps us be able to rejoice with others even when we ourselves may be experiencing something difficult.
For hundreds of mornings, year upon year, before I place my feet on the floor, I ask Jesus to fill me with joy. “May the joy of the Lord be my strength,” is often my first prayer of the day. He’s answered this prayer in the most surprising ways during some of my most difficult seasons,
His joy gives me strength to get through each day, even to be able to rejoice with others when I’m grieving myself.
Jesus is both joy and full of compassion. When we pray for more compassion and more joy, He is happy to fill us up and open our eyes.
Choose to Rejoice and Mourn with Others
Jesus knows each day we will have the chance to both rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Ask Jesus today to fill you with both joy and compassion. Allow Him to fill you up so that you can bless someone else in their need today.
Someone needs you celebrate with them today. Jesus wants you to. Someone else needs you to weep with them today. Jesus wants you to. Today, let us choose to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and to mourn with those who are mourning.
Let us sow rejoicing and mourning with others because what we sow we will reap. Let us rejoice together and mourn together. May the joy of the Lord be our strength. May He fill our hearts with compassion and open our eyes to the needs of others.
I am really inspired after reading this blog. Last night I was in a group text and one of the members shared an intense need and prayer request. I felt overwhelmed and drained of energy after reading her text. I didn’t know how to reply at the time. I waited until the next morning and was able to say something encouraging and kind. I love what you said about asking Jesus to fill me with both compassion and joy so I can bless someone else today.
I was a new group member in your Bible study at Grace Church this Fall. You are a beautifully gifted writer and I’m enjoying reading your blogs.
Blessings,
J
Hi Julie! It’s so nice to hear from you. I do so miss the Bible study at church.
What a blessing you were able to encourage and extend kindness to your friend. Sometimes we do need to wait until the morning. After all joy comes in the morning. 🙂
You’ve blessed me now too. Thank you for your kind words about my writing. It’s a privilege to write what Jesus puts on my heart and then share with others. I’m so glad to hear you are being blessed by reading my blogs. 🙂
Thank you for sharing.
with joy,
Michelle 🙂
God made us to be in relationship, so it makes sense that would mean celebrating others’ joys and supporting others in times of sorrows.
We are flexible and can totally do both … all in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thx Michelle! 💕
Yes and Amen, Cris! I wholeheartedly agree. We are made to be in relationship. What a wonderful God we have to give us others to share our lives with, both in joy and sorrow. Together, we can do it!
with joy,
Michelle 🙂
I’ve struggled with this command too. I used to wonder how I could possibly hold all the pain I saw and often felt as my own from others if I was also supposed to function, let alone rejoice with those who rejoice. I once heard it explained that we weren’t meant to hold onto other’s pain for them – how would that help them? But to be sensitive to the needs of those we come in contact with whether that meant offering comfort, encouragement, or celebration. And praying for (or better yet, with) them. That made so much sense to me. It was relieving to think that I could be sensitive without necessarily needing to feel their pain for them.
That’s so good, Pearl. Thank you for sharing this insight. Such wisdom.