In the Morning

Today is Saturday. 

I really like to sleep in when I can, but this morning I was awoken way too early by my dogs who REALLY wanted to be fed...like immediately. When you have a 110 pound goldendoodle standing over you licking your face and pawing at you, you don't lay there. You get up and you start your day, but I didn't really want to do that today. I REALLY wanted to lay in bed this morning and do nothing, but I decided to get up and get going.

I fed the dogs (in case you were wondering, they were extremely happy to eat) and sat down at my computer to check my Facebook messages like I do every morning. During the night I was sent a message from a friend who I haven't seen in almost 30 years. She just found me on Facebook and saw that I had lost Steve. Unfortunately, she has been through the same thing; she lost her sweet husband 10 years ago to liver cancer. Bless her for reaching out to me; it truly meant a lot. 

As I was writing her, I really felt the Holy Spirit urging me towards Psalm 30:5. 

"...weeping may tarry for a night, but joy comes with the morning."

I've grown up hearing this verse many times, but today this scripture really jumped out at me in a different light.. Don't you just love that? Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is alive and active, so isn't it just like God to use scripture to speak to our hearts in new ways?

When I've heard this scripture in the past, it evoked a picture in my mind of someone going to bed sad and waking up happy. Pretty childish and silly, but honestly, it's one truth of this verse. But let me dig just a little deeper with it. What really jumped out at me is this:

NIGHT DOES NOT LAST FOREVER

THE DARK DOES NOT LAST FOREVER

 THE SUN ALWAYS RISES

MORNING ALWAYS COMES

Charles Spurgeon said it best when he wrote this commentary on Psalm 30:5:

"Morning always follows night, and the weeping believer may be confident that as he keeps his focus on God, He will bring him once again to joy."

My sweet friends, there is so much truth in this. Just as the sun always rises in the morning, joy will come again. Does this mean you will always be happy? Heck no. Just ask my friends how many times they've seen me a sobbing mess. Many times. Sometimes many times a day. Just keeping it real.

BUT I HAVE JOY

Happiness is an emotion. It is a temporary emotion typically determined by what is currently going on in our lives at that moment. 

Joy is a state. It's where our hearts live. It is not determined by our circumstances, but is given to us by God. 

My sweet friends, I pray that no matter your circumstance, that you continue to seek after God. 

Allow Him to bring you to joy.