Has it happened to you that suddenly when your distractions and entertainments end, you suddenly feel sad and alone?
Have you felt sad and alone and don’t even know why?
Think about it for a moment.
It’s happened to you at least once.
Maybe it’s happening to you right now.
But how to stop living sad?
I’d like to talk to you about it.
To do so, I would like to share with you an episode from the Bible.
Jesus’ disciples were once in great distress.
Deeply saddened and look what the Lord says to them:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You believe in God; believe also in me.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
“If you love me, keep my commands.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.
The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.
But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
| John 14:1-3,15-17
Do you know why they felt sad?
Jesus was soon to die and later resurrect to go to heaven and no longer be physically next to them until he returned a second time.
As was well known, the cause of his deep sadness was the future absence of Jesus.
And that reminds me of my past life.
Those moments when I felt sad and alone, even in the midst of a crowd of friends, with amenities or in the most beautiful places possible.
I felt sad and didn’t know why.
You know, now I understand why I felt that way, now I understand why.
And now I understand why you’re probably going through that circumstance just like I did.
The deep sadness in which we human beings live when we are not drowned, unconscious, in addictions and futile entertainments.
That sadness is caused by a single reason that applies to all people.
The absence of Jesus.
The absence of Jesus is the cause of our sadness.
We can blame circumstances, we can blame other people, we can blame loneliness, we can blame yourself, but we’re wrong.
The real sadness in our hearts exists because we are not close to Jesus.
And you know why we’re not close to Jesus?
This is because we are in rebellion against Him, in rebellion against God.
In a depressing condition called sin that takes us away from the joy of being in the presence of the Lord.
We were created to live in that presence, but we are cut off from it and our hearts desperately long to be with Jesus.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (…)
| Psalms 42:1-2
I have understood that this is the reason why we do not find meaning in anything.
But there is hope for you and me.
Jesus tells his disciples:
(…) I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Your sadness is not an irredeemable and infinite sadness.
You don’t have to live sad.
No.
We have a God who loves us infinitely and has loved us with all his greatness and glory since all eternity.
Jesus is going to return and wants to come back for you so that you are always with Him.
Because he loves you infinitely.
He wants you to always be with him, full of joy, joy, and peace for all eternity.
And you know, that swells my heart with hope.
But wait a minute.
Life with Jesus is not about living in sadness until he returns.
No!
That’s not the purpose, nor is God’s plan for your life.
Look at what the Lord says to them:
(…) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. (…)
Jesus didn’t just leave and leave us alone.
No!
The absence of Jesus is what brings sadness to our hearts but that sadness need not remain.
Do you know why?
For the Lord has given us a comforter in the meantime while He returns to seek us out.
The Spirit of truth.
The Holy Spirit.
A being more real than you and me.
To stop living sad, we need to accept the Spirit of God into our life.
A being who wants to fill you with wisdom, love, kindness, holiness, who wants to fill your heart with joy, gladness, peace and put away forever the sadness until you can finally be with Jesus.
Your life doesn’t have to remain sad, that can be changed by the grace of Jesus.
Renounce to be in rebellion against God and accept Jesus as your savior.
Take steps to be closer to Him and by His grace, you will receive the comforter in your heart.
You never have to continue in sadness and loneliness again.
Get close to Jesus, there is a much better life for you.
And not just a life but an eternity of infinite joy.
How about we say a prayer together:
“Lord, my heart needs you, my whole being needs you.
Fill my life with you, help me and give me the strength to get away from what you dislike and get closer to you.
Give me the strength to stay close to you and receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”
