If you’re thinking that you no longer have the strength to make your sad heart smile, then you might be right. So give God a chance to do what you can’t do on your own.

As you have figured out by now, life is not a sprint. It is a marathon. And just as our bodies physically don’t bounce back as quickly from exertion or illness as they used to, I think our spirits lose some elasticity as the years roll on too.

Persistent disappointments sometimes make people violent or abusive or bitter. Sometimes they just make us sad. They grind down our optimism and cheerfulness to the point where even bits of good news don’t cheer us up.

Here’s where God can help. He is not only going to restore us completely in heaven—his restoration work is going on right now. If you have an ocean of sadness inside, don’t give up. God hasn’t! “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Psalm 30:11).

If you’re thinking that you no longer have the strength to make your sad heart smile, you might be right. So give God a chance to do what you can’t do on your own. Review the amazing stories in his Word in which he reversed people’s downward slides and made things happen for them. Trust his kindly intent and limitless power. Give him your hopes and fears, your brokenness and needs. Dance with him!