Glad to be Sad

“When we are sad we can be thankful, for we have had something in our lives with such meaning that it is worth being sad about.”
Loren Thornburg

Leaving is hard as is being left. I have been on both ends. Now I find myself on the leaving end as I get ready to leave for Colorado. There have been many goodbyes and tears of sadness. Although for many it is ‘see ya later’ there is also a grieving in the midst of change. I am reminded how hard it is to leave, but also at the same time so thankful that I have invested into and been invested into in ways that make it hard to leave. The sadness is a reminder of how meaningful my time here has been. And so although I am sad I am also glad that I have been given the opportunity to be a part of something that is worth being sad about. May you too in the midst of your sadness see the gladness. The reason for your sadness is that it has been that meaningful to you. So we can be glad that we have something so meaningful that it demands our sadness.

“For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but even then I will remain loyal to you.”

Isaiah 54:10

Isaiah 54 is all about the compassion of the Lord for those who mourn. This is not just a compassion that feels sorry for you but one that is seen. A compassion that leads our God to action. He is not just on the sidelines wishing things were different for us but He is with us, on our side, rebuilding our lives from the shame and grief that they were once known by into something beautiful. This is why we can trust Him when He says that in the midst of things falling apart He will remain loyal. He will be there with us making us into something new! So in the midst of our sadness we truly can find reason to be thankful for God is doing something new in us. Until we can see it we can trust Him, the loyal God, who is on our side.