Sins Emotional Torment

Lamentations 5:15-17, "The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim."

People often fail to recognize the full consequences of sin.  Its first consequence is broken fellowship with God.  Disobedience always results in broken fellowship.  Its consequences continue as our heart becomes hardened and comfortable apart from God.  Ultimately, however, sin robs you of joy and the will to live as one should.  Notice the words of our text in sequence:

  • The joy of our heart is ceased

  • Our dance is turned into mourning

  • The crown is fallen from our head

  • For this our heart is faint

  • For these things our eyes are dim

At the center of these words about how one perceives life, there is nothing positive, but only negatives.  These are words describing the emotional torment that accompanies a life lived in sin.  So many people seek to change their circumstances when often the problem is they need to repent of habitual sin.  If you choose to live in sin, in any form of disobedience, your joy will cease, your slavery to sin will become stronger, and your heart will be faint.  If these verses are descriptive of your life, please look immediately to God, seek forgiveness of your sin, and then turn from your sin.  It will be in that moment that joy will return, your bondage to sin will cease, and your heart will be encouraged.

May the Lord give us a will to serve and worship Him.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. When we sense most of what’s in our life is negative, what should we do?

2. Do you see the powerful influence of unconfessed sin and the impact it has on individuals? Why would we want to live this way?

3. What might it take for a person who has lost their joy, to get it back?

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