Day 183: The Sorrowful Heart - Devotions for the Menopausal Woman

Read: Matthew 26:30-38

The Sorrowful Heart

“Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).

Karen Carpenter popularized a song that went like this: “Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea rush to shore? Why do the birds go on singing? Don’t they know it’s the end of the world? It ended when you said good-bye.” This song touched a nerve with audiences. After all, pain and sorrow are universal.

We understand sorrow in the context of grief or break up, but have little patience for those experiencing it from depression or hormones. It is often this type of sorrow that drives a person to do the unthinkable.

Christ experienced a depth of sorrow most of us never will. He carried the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. Maybe in our own vulnerable way, we are confronted with the weight of our own fleshly weaknesses and in our heightened emotional state it seems too much to bear.

In His moment of temptation, He asked His disciples to pray for Him. When we are emotionally weak we desperately need the prayers of others. Don’t be ashamed to recruit your friends and family as prayer warriors. The more the better.

Hot Flash: Sorrow is no respecter of persons. Whether from a broken heart, or a deep feeling unexplainable, God's Word, the Holy Spirit and faithful prayer from friends are the key.

Prayer: Father, Truly my flesh is weak. When my heart experiences sorrow, help me to seek out friends to pray for me, and may I do the same for them. Amen.