Darrell Evans – Trading my Sorrows

Prior to this review, I did not know who wrote the famous Contemporary Christian hit Trading My Sorrows.  That honor (or dishonor, depending upon how well it does) goes to guitarist, lyricist, and artist Darrell Evans.  Though he has not won any prestigious awards for his work, he has recorded 11 albums and numerous compilations, including Let the River Flow, Freedom, and Consuming Fire.

In 2015, He took on the position of Worship Pastor at Life Church in Roscoe, Illinois.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

It is a personal, testimonial message that can be easily misunderstood if not properly examined.

The first part can either be described as trading worldly sorrow for Godly joy, or it could express the unbiblical concept that following Jesus automatically means no more suffering in this life.  I believe the second to be more likely due to Stanza 3 (see section 2).

Those of you who listen to this song while suffering might attain a sour taste in your collective mouths upon listening.  To that, I sympathise and understand your feelings, as one who lost a son while my wife was 19 weeks pregnant.  I am intimately familiar with pain and loss.  Yet, I maintain that this first stanza is not about trading personal sorrows, shame, sickness, and pain for God’s joy, though God can and does heal individuals in these things.  Rather, it is our moral bankrupty, separated from God, that is traded for God’s everlasting, internal peace.

The second part is an outward expression of the believer’s heart and desire to obey Christ.

The third contain the sufferings endured as a result of following Jesus.  Despite the onslaught of persection, we as Christians maintain our internal peace, connecting with God as One who helps us endure.

The fourth is….mostly unecessary, spoken noises.  It does contain some additional information regarding dancing, which fits with Evans’ overall theme.

Score: 9/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

The entire song agrees with the Bible.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

Since this song does not contain a Verse/Chorus/Bridge structure, I assigned stanza’s to each section.

[Stanza 1]

I’m trading my sorrows I’m trading my shame
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord

There are two sides to this.

On the one hand, it pays lip service to the great exchange, migrating from a dead man, fallen in sin, to a spiritually-awakened individual, alive in Christ, with all the joy that comes with it (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

On the other hand, as Christians, we should always be prepared to endure sorrows, hardship, and shame on account of Christ.  That is the life of a Christ follower (1 Peter 4:12-19).  We should become joyous when we suffer for enduring it (Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4) and be humbled when God uses it to discipline us for our good (Hebrews 12:4-11).  Such individuals are called blessed by Jesus (Matthew 5:10).  I wouldn’t trade the joys that come through suffering for the world!

Given the two options, based on the text that exists in Stanza 3, the first seems more likely than the second.  The second itself shows up in Stanza 3.

Finally, Christ followers will one day enter eternal bliss, in God’s Kingdom without any pain or suffering (Revelation 21:1-4).

Yeah – spoken

Agreement.

I’m trading my sickness I’m trading my pain
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord

See commentary on lines 1 and 2.

[Stanza 2]

We say
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Stanza 1 is behaviorial expression, action that demonstrates that following Jesus is not mere words for the expressor (Matthew 7:21-23, John 13:35, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Peter 2:21, 1 John 2:3-4, and 1 John 3:1).  Those who talk a good game and have no accompanying, behaviorial evidence will find themselves surprised in judgment.  They will enter eternal separation from God rather than eternal life with God (Matthew 7:21-23, James 2:14-26, and Revelation 22:14-15).

Since Stanza 1 comes first, we can assume that these words comes from a heart that actually follows Jesus (Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 10:11, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 24:12, Matthew 12:34, and Luke 6:45).

Amen

Amen!

[Stanza 3]

I am pressed but not crushed
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed

As quoted from 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, it describes the suffering servant as a result for following Jesus, but not separated from God.  This individual attains their internal peace throughout this worldly struggle (John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15).

I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy’s gonna be my strength

The promise given to the Israelite people post-Babylonian exile, as quoted in Nehemiah 8:10, contains a New Testament equivelent in the attitude of Paul, after God denied to remove the thorn in his side.  His joy comes from boasting in his weaknesses, to which he draws Godly strength (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).  He has learned the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:11-13).

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

As quoted from Psalm 30:5, in the New Testament, worldly sufferings, sorrows, and our ugly past pale in comparison to the joy of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8).

[Stanza 4 (spoken)]

Ha, ha ha
Yeah

Happy noises.

Come and set our feet a dancing

Probably a reference to Psalm 30:11 in the context of this song’s theme, that God turns our sorrows into joy.

Put a new song in our heart, O God
A song of praise and hope

Paraphrases Psalm 40:3, that our new, transformed life comes with new desires and hope.  Also, see Proverbs 13:12.

Oh la la la…
Come on – spoken
La la la…

More happy noises.

Oh la la…

Lots of happy noises!

Well, let the children of God dance

Indeed!  Let them dance like King David did (2 Samuel 6:14-22).

Yeah
Yeah

Yeah
Yes, Lord
Yeah

Happy agreement.

Let Your joy be our strength in You, Lord

Rephrases Stanza 3, line 6 as a prayer to God.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

At best, outsiders to Christianity will agree with my assessment.  At worst, they will walk away with the wrong impression, that they can “trade” their own personal sorrows, shame, sickness, and pain if they follow Jesus.  The latter will walk away highly disappointed, leaving them worse off than before listening.  It is hard to say which is more likely, but it does seem easy to misunderstand for someone with little to know knowledge of Christianity.

I’ll give half credit.

Score: 5/10

4. What does this song glorify?

Though it does implicitly bring glory to God, through a proper understanding of these lyrics, it is also easy for unbelievers to misunderstand Evans’ message, which snatches some of it away.

Score: 7/10

Closing Comments

Darrell Evans’ wonderful masterpiece Trading my Sorrows contains a great message of trading spiritual sorrow for God’s everlasting, internal peace.  This testimonial may be easily misconstrued by those who have not studied Christianity, making it difficult to recommend for seeker-friendly churches.

For other churches, consider resurrecting this dinosaur back from the grave.  Your congregation will lilely appreciate the throwback to 1990’s worship.

Final Score: 8/10

Artist Info

Track: Trading My Sorrows (listen to the song)

Artist: Darrell Evans

Album: Freedom

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 1998

Duration: 6:01

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 1998 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

09/14/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Darrell Evan’s theology based on his current church’s beliefs.

03/23/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.