May 21, 2018 (Monday)
An old spiritual song says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. It’s a song that slaves used to sing, and it was not published until 1867. The words seem to change from singer to singer, but here is a set of lyrics that may please some of our readers.
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows my sorrow
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Sometimes I’m up
Sometimes I’m down
Oh, yes, Lord
Sometimes I’m almost to the ground
Oh, yes, Lord
Oh, nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows my sorrow
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Glory, Hallelujah
Oh, every day to you I pray
Oh, yes Lord
For you to drive my sins away
Oh, yes Lord
Oh, nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
(Glory) glory Hallelujah (hallelujah) (Lord)
Sooner or later most of us will have feelings something like those expressed in the song. Good advice for you may be to let the feelings pass and then get on with your life. Self-pity is a very debilitating state of mind. It makes you want to withdraw from life and be alone with your negative thoughts. It is usually called a “pity party.”
Life has its days of real trouble and almost everyone experiences those days sooner or later. I can think of songs that might help your spirits to be lifted, like “God Will Take Care of You,” or “Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There.” I can also think of Scripture verses that can help, like “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Or, the verses found in Isaiah 60:
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you
and his glory will be seen upon you.
Paul Powell, a wonderful leader among Baptists, had a standing order for all his staff members. Every day at 4:00 p.m. they were to stop their office work and heed their pastor’s instructions: “Off your seat! On your feet! Into the street!” This meant they were to find people to whom they could witness and/or minister, or people they could invite to church, before they went home later.