John 16:19-33 How to Overcome Your Sorrow? Feb 17, 2008
I heard of a United Methodist pastor who had trouble remembering people’s names in his congregation. So whenever he met anyone, he would just ask them, “How’s the old problem you’ve been having?” Almost everyone would respond, telling him about some sorrow, pain, or trouble. Everyone thought he remembered exactly who they were.
It does seem that we all have some old problem. It seems there is some lingering sorrow that hangs on. A man drinking in a bar said to the bartender, “I come in here to drown my sorrows but they have learned how to swim.” We are continuing our series on the Words of Jesus and today we hear Jesus speak the truest of words. “In this world you will have troubles.” No one of us can doubt that fact. In this world, we do have troubles. But Jesus also says here, “But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” This morning, I want to look at how we can overcome our troubles in this world.
Popular songs often sing of the troubles of this life. Country music is well known for songs about mama in jail, my dog just died, and my truck is broke down. Goth rock groups like the Cure or Bauhaus sing of the dark side of life. Jesus also said that we are surrounded by sadness and trouble in this life. And yet, that is not the end of the story. There is a need for music, art, and theatre that reveal to us the sadness of life. But the purpose should be to move us to solutions. To remain forever stuck in that mode is not seeing the whole picture. Jesus tells us that there is a way out. He has overcome the world. And so can we. How do we do that?
First, Jesus said that in this world you will have trouble. That is not a maybe statement. You will have trouble. But we have to know that the circumstances of life are never as important as our attitude toward those circumstances. Karabeth Sheleich lives in Harris Hill, NY where as a child she was struck with Cerebral Palsy. She can only walk with much pain and with crutches. Yet she stands on those crutches as she teaches her United Methodist Sunday School class each week. She walks with pain but still serves as the chair of the UMW. She owns a successful needlepoint store and is the mother of two children. She said in an article of the United Methodist Reporter, “I guess what makes me go is when someone says, “It can’t be done.” I decide with God’s power I’m going to do it. Your attitude can handicap you as much as anything. God has given me life and I want to glorify Him with my life fully alive.” I bet all of us know people like that. Think for a moment. Who is the person you know who has best shown that the troubles of life are never as important as our attitudes toward those troubles? How would you describe that person? How about you? What is really getting you down? Is it your circumstances or is it your attitude? You need to know that if you change your attitude, you can change everything.
Secondly, Jesus said, “Be of good cheer.” You must determine that you will make yourself happy. Notice I did not say that you will be happy. No. You will make yourself happy. For some years, my answering machine message was “Have a good day.” Now it says, “Make it a good day.” Joy is a decision we make. So is long term sadness. Too many people have decided that they will be miserable. Their life is all about “poor me.” They work hard to be unhappy, in a dark mood, looking at the negative side of life. And it is hard work to stay in this mode. Their favorite song is, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” Well, if that is your song you should never read biographies or you will discover people who know what you have seen and much worse. If you want to believe that you cannot overcome whatever has happened to you, then keep your eyes close because all around you, especially in church, you will see people who have faced worse and have overcome it. If you want to believe that these are the worst of times, then do not read history because you will discover there have been much worse times in which to live. Sure there is trouble in this world and we will have sad times. But sadness need not last long term. Millions of people have had troubles and yet made themselves--decided that they would still be happy. So can you.
Let me say that sometimes we feel guilty about feeling happy. Maybe a spouse or other loved one has died and now we feel that in order to honor and remember them, we can never be happy again. I know people who feel that they are betraying their departed loved one if they ever laugh again. Only be being forever sad can they show their deep love. Listen. Your departed loved one would not want you to be sad for the rest of your life. I have lost friends and family through the years. I have been sad and have cried over that loss. But I also know that my loved ones would want me to live my life and be happy. I know that when I die someday, I hope Charlie will miss me a little. But I want Charlie to go on and live in fullness and joy all the days of his life. How about you? Does some form of guilt keep you from joy in life? Your loved one would not want that for you. Jesus does not want that for you. Jesus says, “Be of good cheer.”
Jesus said that we would have trouble. He said to be of good cheer. Finally he gives us the way. I have overcome the world. We are in this season of Lent, preparing for Easter and this is the meaning of Easter. Jesus would go through the suffering of the cross because there is trouble in this world. But the Easter resurrection is the glad shout that Jesus has overcome this world. We can also overcome this world as we join in the spirit and work of Jesus Christ. Listen. The best way to believe Jesus and to make His truth real in our lives is to join Jesus in his continuing work of overcoming the world. In the cross, Jesus has decisively struck a blow to overcome this world. Today His work continues until He comes again in glory. And we who follow Him work along side Him in this mission to overcome the world.
Saint Paul wrote in Galatians 6:2, “Carry one another’s burden and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” I know some of you carry a heavy burden. Here is the solution. Carry someone else’s burden. As you help others, you will be helped. If you will join with Jesus and involve yourself in the work of overcoming the world, you will ease you own burden. How does Karabeth Sheleich with Cerebral Palsy have such joy? She is too busy helping other people and being involved with the work of God to think about her own troubles. I know it is an old cliché that if we want to forget our own troubles, we should help someone else with their trouble. It is still true after all these years. To fulfill what Christ is doing in overcoming the world, we are to carry one another’s burdens. Do the work of God in this church, in this community, in mission to the world and you will soon be of good cheer because you too will be overcoming the world.
So what will you do? These are not words to think about for long. These are words to live and put into action. Jesus said, “The person who hears my words and does them is a person who builds his life on a strong rock.” Jesus said, “You will have trouble.” But your attitude is more important you’re your troubles. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer.” You can decide to make yourself happy. Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.” If you join Jesus in his work to carry others burdens, then you too will overcome the world.” I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Think with me for a moment. What changes must you make in your attitudes, actions, and lifestyle if you were to take these words seriously? Did you know that Norman Vincent Peale was very naturally depressed? He suffered states of deep depression. Yet he discovered the power of positive thinking based on Jesus Christ. He had much sadness in his life and yet he made himself to be happy and filled with joy. He involved himself in helping others carry their burdens to find that same positive thinking and so Norman Vincent Peale overcame the world. So can you. Amen.