The Wrong of Excessive Sorrow

Reasons we should not yield to excessive sorrow in trouble.
(1) We wrong our own selves when we give way to grief and sorrow that is immoderate and inordinate. The soul is put out of joint by it. We make actions difficult for us. Joy and comfort are oil to the soul. Nehemiah said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength' (Neh. 8:10). When we give way to excessive fear and grief it weakens the soul. It causes a cloud betwixt God's love and us. Joy enlarges the soul, but inordinate grief shrinks it.
(2) By over-much sorrow and grief, what a great deal of dishonour do we to God. Often, with over-much fear and sorrow, there is joined murmuring and discontent, and a spirit unsubdued to God. There is a wronging of his care in providence and of his graciousness in his promises. There is a grieving of his good Spirit; a questioning of his government, as if he did not dispose of things as he should. It argues a great deal of pride to be sad and dejected as if such worthy and excellent persons as we should be so afflicted. Whereas if we balance our grounds of comfort, being Christians, as we should do, they will appear incomparably above the grounds of our discouragements.
(3) Though we should be troubled for sin, yet to be overmuch troubled for sin is a dishonour to Christ, and to the love of God in Christ; for it is as if we had not in him a sufficient remedy for that great malady. It is sinful when grief for sin makes us forget the mercies of God in Christ; to forget the healing virtue of him our brazen serpent. Overmuch sadness, even though it be for sin, is hurtful and disgraceful. Joshua was much cast down when he saw it went not well with Israel; but God said, 'Get up, Joshua, what are you doing lying here?' Up and do your duty! There is an Achan in the camp. So, when things go not well, let not your thoughts be conversant about the matters of trouble, so much as about your duty.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Sibbes's Last Two Sermons: First Sermon, Works, vol. 7, pp. 341-43
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.