“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.”
Psalms 30:5 NIV
This verse has brought me so much comfort throughout my life. Whenever I have found myself, like King David, guilt stricken because of sin I am encouraged that the Lord’s permanent disposition isn’t anger and wrath, but rather a life of favor for me. Just like the verse says His anger is but a moment, his favor for a lifetime. The other half of this verse is just as encouraging, but to often I find myself not truly believing or hoping for the Joy that is promised. This was the case this last week.
It had been one really long extended period of sickness for my two children. I was tired from holding them in my arms in the middle of the night. I hadn’t had any job offers from the two interviews that I went for at the hospital. Plus, Noelle and I hadn’t received any new monthly Belfast support in the last month. I was hopeless and joyless. If there was ever a time for a good dose of “morning joy”, now was the time. Although I have been praying consistently for the Lord to show us His direction and knew He answered with a loud “GO TO BELFAST”, there seemed to be no end to the discouragement of the evil one. He really is that lion waiting to attack our areas of vulnerability. The extent of my discouragement couldn’t have been greater, but then…The Lord gave me that desperately needed Joy! I know that we always have joy, because we have Christ in our lives, but this was a day of joy! I prayed in the morning, “Confirm your will, Lord…really show me a sign that you are calling me to Belfast.”
That very morning while having a great cup of coffee at Starbucks, I got a call from a Pastor from upstate New York. He called to ask when their church could host us to come and share about Belfast at his church so that they could start supporting us. What a difference that phone call made! A simple phone call was the outward expression of the Joy the Lord had for me. The day went on to be full of great things. I got a small handyman job, I replaced the starter on my truck that had been out of commission for two months and I felt the presence of the Lord so close all day. I wanted to share this story with all of you, because I want to encourage you that the Lord is for you and He really can bring you Joy. I know that there are probably very few people who know exactly what you go through each day and what discouragements you face, but He does. The Lord loves you! He has a life of favor planned for you, and His desire is to fill you with a new Joy every morning. I know that we don’t alway seek, or see that Joy, but it is there.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”
Matthew 7:7 NIV
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