Glorious Sunrise

For His anger lasts only a moment,
    but His favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning. – Psalm 30:5

I have been committed in conversations with Julie that we are not going to live this year depressed.  We are not going to let the nagging, constantly drag-us-down, family of mine ruin our days.  We will not allow their actions or inactions determine our fullness of heart and steal our joy.  It is time to cut those strings and let it float away.  God will bring it together correctly if and when decisions are made to put Him first and that is out of our hands and cannot be forced.

I remind her and myself, we are following God.  We have put His precepts first, even when the world told us to do otherwise.  We have dedicated ourselves to believing His way is the right way no matter how badly we mess it up.  Because we are following in faith, His goodness makes us good.  We are not evil and we do not seek to hurt others in any way.  We only want others to know God is real and alive like we do.

It is a shame that we have to remind ourselves of this about ourselves, but if we don’t, I find I get depressed.  I find I start second-guessing and wondering if I’m just completely out-of-my-mind.  The mind game wears us down and we start to crumble sometimes. 

C.H. Spurgeon wrote, “Be patient! The Husbandman waits until He reaps His harvest.  Be patient; for you know who has said, 'Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.'"

David’s assurance here is encouraging.  “God’s favor lasts a lifetime.”  What a wonderful characteristic of God.  He doesn’t leave us; He is always there and He wants what is best for us, forever!  And although we may have been in times of sorrow from pain, it is only for a brief season.  The rejoicing from the arrival of God’s glory that is with us always comes fresh and anew as a sunrise. 

Again, Spurgeon wrote, “Let us go on boldly; if the night be never so dark, the morning cometh, which is more than they can say who are shut up in the darkness of hell.  Do you know what it is thus to live on the future - to live on expectation - to antedate heaven?  Happy believer, to have so sure, so comforting a hope.  It may be all dark now, but it will soon be light; it may be all trial now, but it will soon be all happiness.” 

We am looking anxiously for that sunrise.  Our hearts are about to explode with anticipation and our eyes are searching earnestly.  Oh God, come and fill our hearts to overflowing!  Give us the grace and power to persevere to that glorious morning!