“Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.”
Ecclesiastes 7: 3-4
When I learned the true gospel and gave my life to Christ in 2018, I was incredibly naive.
I had bought into the idea that becoming a Christian meant that life would be smooth sailing. I eagerly awaited my blessings and prayed expectantly, trusting the Lord to shield me from all pain and suffering. I thought, ‘Surely, if God was good, and if He loved me, then He would want to see me flourish and live a life of ease.’
You can imagine my disillusionment when I proceeded to go through some of the most diffucult seasons of my life, from losing my father to dealing with depression after a toxic relationship. I realized that God doesn’t always protect me from painful things, and this forced me to step back and think, ‘Well, what exactly am I trusting God for?’ Why would He still permit things that could harm me and wreak havoc on my mental health? More importantly, how do these things ultimately show His goodness?
I couldn’t answer these questions immediately, and I confess that there were several times when I doubted God. There were times when I fell back into false theology and wondered if I was being punished for something I did wrong. The fact that I couldn’t understand what He was doing frustrated me so much, but I’m grateful that He was patient enough to show me the “why” over time. It’s not that He’s apathetic or sadistic. Rather, it’s in seasons of suffering when most of the spiritual growth happens. I’ve learned that this is when God does His best work.
So when I read Ecclesiastes 7: 3-4, I can understand why the writer says that “a sad face is good for the heart,” and that “the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning.”
Some may read these verses and take them to the extreme, assuming that Solomon wants us to walk around with sour faces and embrace hardship for the sake of becoming wise, but I don’t think it’s meant to be taken this way at all. There is nothing wrong with having a good laugh or celebrating happy occasions. I think what Solomon is getting at is how damaging it can be for our souls when we’re consumed with hedonistic pleasure, enjoying a life of ease and contentment with no resistance and no pain. In this case, we’re prone to become more prideful and self-sufficient. Our self-awareness lessens. Our spiritual muscles become weak and we leave less room for the Holy Spirit to work in us. But when one is going through a tough season, they have a unique opportunity to reflect, to contemplate life, and to grow in their intimacy with God.
Best of all, this presents an opportunity to draw on God’s divine strength. As Paul notes in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I love that Paul has grown to delight in his weakness and suffering, not necessarily because it’s fun for him, but because he knows it will ultimately glorify his Heavenly Father, and this is what he desires most.
As much as I hated my seasons of suffering, I can now look back and thank God that He used those experiences to break me, humble me, and do surgery on my sinful heart. It was in moments of deep pain and sadness that I really learned to lean on God’s grace and trust Him. I can’t honestly say that I’ve gotten to the point where I “delight” in these moments andthey don’t make me feel strong. But I trust that my growing dependency on God reveals a different kind of strength, and it encourages me to know that it’s all for God’s glory.
Nakeisha Campbell 