James 4:9

"Be miserable and mourn and weep;

let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom."

mis·er·a·ble
\ˈmi-zər-bəl, ˈmiz-rə-, ˈmi-zə-rə-\

: being in a pitiable state of distress or unhappiness : being likely to discredit or shame

mourn
\ˈmȯrn\
: to feel or express sorrow dealing with great tragedy or death : to lament : grief that cannot be hidden

weep
\ˈwēp\
: to express deep sorrow by shedding tears : to pour forth (tears) from the eyes

We are told here in James 4:9 to feel 'miserable' unlike what we often hear "wouldn't you like to feel good?" These miserable feelings need to be linked to the true estimate of one's sinfulness. It refers to the inner feelings of shame over sin. James is not denying the joy, but he's saying it doesn't start that way.

But a person who comes to Christ isn't simply a person who signs on the dotted line and moves into their salvation story. A person who comes to Christ must be a person who is 'miserable,' who 'mourns,' and 'weeps' over their own sinfulness.

John MacArthur describes it this way

"...misery is a recognition of the state. Mourning is how the spirit responds. And weeping is how the body reponds, crying, shedding tears. Inner sorrow works its way to the outside."

Are we overwhelmed by our sin?