Psalm 30 - The Promise Beyond the Tears

“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:4-5

Stormy nights can look, sound, and feel oh so dark and bleak. Even hopeless. The storm rages in anger, the winds roar in defiance, and the rains relentlessly pelt throughout the night with nary a tick of the clock spared. Yet the mornings that follow, they can look oh so very different.

Last week Margie and I endured yet another hurricane, Grace, while staying in Cozumel, Mexico. And what a long sleepless night it was. The winds howled, whined, and struggled against the atmosphere, and as a result, little sleep or inner-peace was to be found. Yet in the morning, as the metal storm shutters were finally drawn back, what greeted us were clear skies and pleasant breezes. You see, the storms of this life will pass and the guarantee of God is robust in its everlasting truth. A new morning of joy is promised to follow the night of trial.

David had countless experiences on which to base this verse. He had been forced into the wilderness for almost 15 years, on the run from the current holder of the Israelite throne, Saul. Yes, the very throne God had promised to David as a youth. How many tear-filled nights must David have had as he fled for his life living under a vicious storm of “whys.” David also experienced the harsh judgement of God as he knowingly walked into sin and felt the hand of God raised towards him in corrective righteousness. How David must have flooded his bed with tears as he lamented his great sin against God. And David saw his very son betray him as he lusted for the throne of his father. And then he saw that very son die in battle attempting to keep that throne which he falsely procured. Yet throughout these many tear-stained nights, David could faithfully see the difference in the break of a new dawn. David could see that the Lord did not stop working at midnight, He only restarted the human heart to see His blessings renew with the rising of the sun.

Life is hard. There are heartbreaks, let downs, disappointments, and sickness enough to drive the saint of God to his knees. As each day draws on it can take you to low places indeed. But the Lord has a promise for you. Each day is refreshed in His promises. Each day contains the renewed love, care, joy, peace, and goodness of God. No matter how your nights may feel, don’t reside in them, reside in the morning that is only hours away. Allow your soul to faithfully drift to the coming morning, where God will deliver joy to your being.

As you endure the walk of a Christ-follower today, choose your focal point. Choose to focus on the promise that as you walk closely with Christ, He will not let you rest in the weeping, but deliver you into joy. A joy that radiates from the Holy Spirit indwelled soul and into the heavens far beyond this life. A joy that is not superficial or circumstantial, but a joy that is delivered directly from a Savior to the saved. A joy that sees a heart reeling in the fact that is has been promised eternal life worshipping the king in the very throneroom of the universe. And for that, I will endure the tears of the night to claim the joy of the morning.

Blessings ~ Dan

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

silencio que habla (silence that speaks), Cozumel, Mexico