Ecclesiastes 7:3 says “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” This verse speaks to a profound truth about the nature of sorrow and its ability to impact our hearts for the better.
In order to understand this verse fully, we must examine the context. Ecclesiastes contains the philosophical musings of King Solomon as he reflects on the meaning of life “under the sun” (without God). Solomon explores the vanity of pleasure, wisdom, labor, and more. This verse comes as part of his thesis that acceptance of mortality and life’s difficulties leads to true wisdom and a heart open to God.
Solomon argues that laughter and pleasure-seeking alone cannot satisfy. Temporary distractions simply leave us empty again. But sorrow has a purifying effect on the heart when experienced in light of eternity. It turns our focus to weightier matters and spiritual truths we’d otherwise ignore in comfortable times.
1. Sorrow causes introspection
Laughter often represents escapism – we seek fun, parties, entertainment. Amusement sweeps pressing issues under the rug. Sorrow forces us to confront ourselves. Loss prompts self-reflection and evaluation of life’s direction. Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 emphasizes how sorrow prods the heart in ways that laughter does not.
We all experience mountaintops and valleys; times of joy and times of grief. But in those moments of sadness or pain, we inventory our lives. Facing mortality through grief, for example, catalyzes perspectives that joy alone cannot. Sorrow takes off our rose-colored glasses so we see things as they truly are.
2. Sorrow stimulates wisdom
Proverbs 14:13 states, “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” Even the greatest earthly happiness fades. Laughter has a superficial quality which pales in light of life’s depth. Sorrow connects us to deeper wells of insight.
Romans 5:3-4 captures this: “…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” Suffering strengthens character and hope. Outlook is refined through difficulty. A wise perspective recognizes earth’s temporary nature and invests in eternity.
We also gain wisdom by walking with others through hardship. Shared grief unifies and enlightens. Job’s friends initially comfort him in his pain, prior to their errant advice (Job 2:11-13). Jesus weeps at Lazarus’ tomb, powerfully identifying with our earthly travails (John 11:33-35). Sorrow builds bridges and community.
3. Sorrow turns us Godward
C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” When laughter and comfort abound, it’s easy to ignore God. But pain grabs our attention.
The psalmists consistently cry out to God from grief. Consider Psalm 13:1-2 – “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?” Only in hitting bottom do we look up to our Creator.
The beatitudes also showcase this. Jesus declares blessings on those who mourn, the poor, and the hungry (Matthew 5:3-4). Hardship creates receptiveness to God. It empties us of counterfeit sufficiency to receive Him. Christ promises comfort when we turn to Him in brokenness (v. 4).
4. Sorrow cultivates virtues
Difficulty builds character when we respond rightly (Romans 5:3-5). But laughter and comfort often lead to complacency and spiritual flabbiness. As Hebrews 12:11 notes, “…no discipline seems pleasant…but later it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” Discipline trains us in godliness.
We also develop key virtues – like courage, hope, compassion, humility – through sorrow. Spiritual director Henri Nouwen wrote, “The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion…that is a friend who cares.” Grief is a profound teacher; we learn care and silence through our tears.
James 1:2-4 validates this: “Count it all joy…when you meet trials…for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” Patience, trust, and steadfastness blossom in difficulty. Sorrow builds virtues laughter alone never can. But we must respond with maturity (James 1:5-8).
5. Sorrow increases ministry effectiveness
Our pain also equips us to minister. The sufferings of Christ enabled Him to be a merciful and faithful high priest (Hebrews 2:17-18). We too are made able to comfort others through the comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Consider Hosea, who experienced deep grief in his marriage yet spoke eloquently of God’s steadfast love for wayward people (Hosea 1-3). Or Jeremiah, called the weeping prophet for his lament over Israel’s sin. Jesus was coronated king of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), acquainted with grief uniquely to redeem it.
A pastor or counselor without tears or trials often proves tone deaf to congregants in crisis. We can only take others’ hands and say “Me too” through our own tragedies. Our pain prepares us to minister to the suffering.
6. Sorrow cultivates eternal hope
Paul encouraged Christians regarding those asleep in Christ, “so we may comfort one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Our longing through earthly loss points us to the world’s brokenness and Christ’s power over death. Sorrow plants a flag of hope in God’s kingdom.
Jesus assured grieving Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Our tears water seeds of resurrection hope. C.S. Lewis reflected after his wife’s passing, “God will invade…Grief is great. To find the universe benign behind all events…”
The sorrowful road leads to hope. As Ecclesiastes 3 testifies, there is a season for everything under heaven – including grief and joy. But only grief’s purifying fire prepares the heart for glory. Romans 8 promises present sufferings pale compared to future glory in Christ.
7. Sorrow brings repentance
We often coast through the laughter-filled seasons in self-sufficiency. But trials reveal their superficiality. In sorrow, we repent and realign with God’s truth and purposes.
The book of James connects sorrow to repentance by contrasting two types of grief – godly sorrow that produces repentance, and worldly grief that produces only death (James 4:7-10). David’s iconic psalm of repentance arose from being confronted with his sin (Psalm 51).
The prodigal’s destitution in the pigpen precipitated his “coming to himself” and returning to the father (Luke 15:11-24). His laughter in self-indulgence turned hollow, making space for humility and reconciliation. Turning to God often follows grief over sin.
8. Sorrow reminds us we need God
At root, sorrow strips away illusions of independence and self-sufficiency that accumulate in times of comfort. Laughter and partying can create a false sense of security and invulnerability.
But in grief, the myth of control dissolves. We grasp how unable we are to govern all outcomes and make things turn out okay. And this is healthy, redirecting faith to the only One worthy of it – God alone.
The Psalms model raw cries for help in pain that reconnect prayer and reliance on God. James 4:6-7 captures the spirit, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Sorrow returns us to humility and grace as we cast our cares on the Almighty.
9. Sorrow prepares us for eternity
For believers, sorrow on earth is tempered by eternal hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). While grief is profoundly painful, Scripture frames it as light and momentary compared to coming glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). As Jesus promised, one day God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).
Sorrow gives us a footnote taste of the mourning to come for those who reject Christ. And it reminds us that this fallen, broken world is not our home. Eternal glory awaits all who trust in Jesus. As Ecclesiastes 7 concludes, true wisdom – no matter how sorrowful life’s path – clings to fearing God and keeping his commandments.
10. The gospel redeems our grief
Christ’s death and resurrection transform loss and pain. Though sorrow remains messy, the gospel grants meaning even to tragedy. Christ bore our griefs and sorrows on the cross (Isaiah 53:3-4), ensuring nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39).
Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb minutes before raising him from the dead (John 11:35-44). Our Savior identifies with grief even as He conquers it. For the Christian, sorrow always points to resurrection hope. The gospel redeems suffering into something beautiful.
God walks with us through the valley of shadows (Psalm 23:4). We are not alone in grief; Christ intercedes for us. The Spirit groans when words escape us (Romans 8:26-27). Truly, blessed are those who mourn, for our Savior comforts us in sorrow (Matthew 5:4).
Conclusion
Ecclesiastes affirms sorrow’s unique purposes compared to superficial laughter. Difficulty opens us to self-reflection, wisdom, godly virtues, ministry, repentance, and hope. Grief humbles us in dependence on God.
Christ’s work on the cross redeems pain through His comfort, identification, and defeat of sin’s curse. For the Christian, no sorrow exists devoid of meaning or hope. Though laughter is enjoyable for a season, our hearts are purified and prepared for eternity through sorrow’s furnace.
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). The valleys prepare us for the mountain vistas. Through difficulty, God’s purposes are accomplished and we experience the full range of human life. Truly, there is an appointed time for everything under heaven, including times to mourn and laugh (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4).
The heart made glad through sadness will be further illuminated on the coming day of no more tears. Until then, godly sorrow keeps our focus heavenward, anchored in Christ’s redemptive work. Thanks be to God who walks with us through it all.