SECRET SORROWS

pastordallaspettis
Jun 20, 2023
2 min read

2 Kings 6:30

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

I can’t think of a worse situation this side of Hell itself. The city of Samaria had been besieged by the king of Syria, and the people were in a great famine. They were literally starving to death. The story describes just how desperate these people were. Two mothers, each having one child, had agreed to eat one child one day and the other the next. However, the one mother couldn’t bring herself to hold up her end of the bargain. They observed the King of Samaria walking on the wall and approached him to plead their case. I cannot imagine living in such conditions as these people were living in, not to mention being the leader of a people in such hopeless despair. The king’s reply to the women was, “What do you want me to do?” He had absolutely no answer to their plight, nor the desperation the city was in.

Succumbing to the pressure, he rents his garment. As the people looked on, there beneath his royal garment was sackcloth. Sackcloth and ashes were a common symbol of a sign of suffering.

I know this is one of the worst stories in the Bible. It’s one of those that makes us want to turn our heads in disgust, but the principle is too important to ignore. There are millions of people and leaders living in pretense. Walking on the wall, looking the part of success. Appearing as though they have life all together, all the while underneath the smiles, gregarious personalities and confidence, there is sackcloth. There are secret sorrows. Disappointment, shame, regret, insecurities, and secrets that threaten to implode their life. Like this king, the only answer is to come clean and admit we don’t have the answers.

What is so sad, God was the only answer, and this king didn’t know God. Now that is a hopeless situation.

Beneath the smiles and success too often is an incredibly sad and sick soul that is searching for answers. It is my prayer that people would just rent their garments, admit that they are hurting, and they do not know how to handle it. I’ve been there as a man and a leader. It wasn’t as desperate as this situation, but painful, nonetheless. There is something about being vulnerable enough to say I don’t have the answer, I don’t know what to do, but I know Who to turn to, that breaks Satan’s hold and summons the strong hand of God.

Isaiah 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Eventually, you will rent your garment. Either in the presence of people or of God. I want to encourage you to run to God, rent your soul and ask Him to touch you with His healing hand!