God gave us emotions. Sadness is an emotion that God has, too.

I know people who are over-the-top positive or optimistic to the point of being unrealistic. Call it faith, positive thinking, or luck – but this kind of thinking is just as bad as people who live in sadness, discouragement, and self-pity.

With God’s help, our emotions can be controlled.

God knows sadness is a part of our life. Otherwise he wouldn’t tell us not to replay the video of difficult situations in our minds over and over and over again. He tells us to find something good to let our mind dwell upon.

… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

This isn’t magic.

It isn’t avoiding reality.

It’s accepting that God knows how he made us and what works.