Sorrow Is Better Than Laughter

-March 11. 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made is better.”

(Ecclesiastes 7:3).

What makes sorrow better than laughter? I know I would rather laugh than cry; I am sure you would concur. But God looks at things differently than we do.

Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. He was known as the Preacher and here in chapter 7 he speaks of certain things are better than others.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways’ says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

God considers what is best in our lives and brings more good from sorrow and than from pleasure. Sorrow draws us closer to the Lord, pleasure doesn’t have that same effect. It is not to say everyone doesn’t need some laughter and pleasure; we definitely do, but it shouldn’t be the dominant force in our lives.

It is interesting that we read of Jesus weeping but nothing of Him laughing or joking. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus and over the city of Jerusalem for their rejection of His love and grace. Sorrow makes the heart better and helps us rely on Christ not ourselves; it teaches us so many lessons.

Robert Browning Hamilton wrote, “I walked a mile with Pleasure, she chattered at the way, but left me none the wiser, for all she had to say. I walked a mile with Sorrow, and not a word said she; but oh, the things I learned from her when Sorrow walked with me.”

There is greater value in pain than pleasure; in sorrow than laughter; in seriousness than in levity. God makes our hearts better and stronger through the hard times.

Have a blessed day whether in joy or sorrow, for He brings joy through sorrow. Stay safe and healthy.

The Man of Sorrows knows how we feel and what we are going through because He went through them as we do and will see us through.

Dean