Daily devotional · April 21
Joy Comes in the Morning
“I will exalt You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up and have not allowed my foes to rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. O LORD, You pulled me up from Sheol; You spared me from descending into the Pit. Sing to the LORD, O you His saints, and praise His holy name. For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning. In prosperity I said, “I will never be shaken.” O LORD, You favored me; You made my mountain stand strong. When You hid Your face, I was dismayed. To You, O LORD, I called, and I begged my Lord for mercy: “What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness? Hear me, O LORD, and have mercy; O LORD, be my helper.” You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.”
David praises God for rescuing him from a dark time. He writes that weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. He also confesses that when things were going well he felt secure and then was shaken when God seemed to hide his face. That honesty is helpful: comfort and hardship both teach us dependence. The psalm ends with mourning turned into dancing. It does not say the night was short or painless, only that it was not the end. Today, if you are in a night season, do not rush the morning, but do remember that it comes. Write down one time God brought you through something hard. Read it slowly and thank him. Then share that story with someone else who might need to hear it.
Prayer
Lord, turn my mourning into dancing in Your time, and keep me close until then. Amen.