Joy in the Morning

 By: Grace Metzger

Weeping may last through the night,

but joy comes in the morning.

Psalms 30:5 NLT

I've held this verse very close to my heart in times of sadness and worry. It's a wonderful reminder that no matter what is happening to us currently that God's is still in control. I love that reminder. I came across this verse again this week and it reminded me of the day my nephew had heart surgery. He was only one month old and because it was a major surgery I wasn't allowed to see him the day of or the day after the surgery. So I went into work completely clouded in fear and anxiety. I ended up in the bathroom having a panic attack over the situation my nephew was in. While I was trying to calm down I looked up verses that I hoped would bring me peace and I stumbled across this one. And it worked! Every time the enemy tried to place fear in my heart I would recite this. 

The ending of that story is that it's been a year since his surgery and he's a healthy, happy, goofy little boy now. That day caused a lot of weeping but now I get to be in the wonderful season of joy. There was times during that situation I thought we would never get out of this storm. But God was there for us throughout the whole thing.

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 NIV

The Bible never promised us that we wouldn't go through difficult times. Sometimes we have to go through those nights of mourning and sadness. But the Bible does promise that God will heal our broken hearts and bind up our wounds. We may still have to bear the storms but we get to bear them with God. He will walk with us through the storms of life until we get to the joys that come. 

God has a wonderful plan for our lives, plans full of hope and a future. In fact, in Revelation 21:4 it says, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” His plans for us are full of happiness and joy, we just have to bear through the storm a bit. 

Discussion Question: What verse do you hold onto in times of mourning?