Seasons of Sadness

Intro

Jason texted me at 6:30 this morning. Jerk. Told me to be the voice of Christ this morning. I have no idea what Jesus sounded like so I’m not going to try to do an impression.

In the 1970s our culture became much more intentional about teaching kids that it’s OK to be different. It’s OK to feel. This is part of what drove Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and Mr. Rogers.

It also helped create a record called “Free To Be You And Me.” It’s very early 1970s. One of the tracks was sung by a well know professional football player, a member of the Fearsum Foursome, Rosie Greer, and it was called, “It’s Alright To Cry.” It would be like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson it today, which I think would be great.

I want to tell you this morning that it’s alright to cry about what God is or is not doing in your life. You will go through seasons of sadness. The goal is not to go around them or avoid them, it is to go through them. Like Jesus did.

Psalm 22

Emotional prosperity gospel.

We are going to be disappointed in God. Good does not equal God, bad does not equal Satan.

We do a huge disservice to our brothers and sisters and to the Lord when tell those who are hurting, “God’s got a plan. It’s going to be OK. Rejoice in the Lord always!” Paul tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep.

It’s OK to be tired; rest. It’s OK to be sad; cry. It’s OK to be angry at God; yell! Jesus didn’t die and rise again so that we could be happy all the time. One of the reasons He died and rose again is so that we would not go through seasons of sadness alone.

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.