Morning has broken. Another day has arrived. The night is past. The shadows flee. The things that go bump-in-the-night no longer are there to frighten us. Sunrise has dispersed the demons of the night. And, joy has come once again.
When I was much younger and delivering the Miami Herald I always was relieved when the first rays of the morning Sun began to show upon the horizon. I could move faster now. My heart didn’t race at the peculiar night sounds. Pausing with each movement of the numerous shadows ceased with those emerging rays. And, joy had come once again.
Psalm 30:5 reads as follows: In the New King James it reads: “For His (God) anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” In the New International Version it reads: “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” And in The Message, which I particularly like, reads: “He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.”
Though our days here on earth might be filled with the demons of life … joy comes in the morning.
Though there are many situations that would seek to defeat us … joy comes in the morning.
Though abuse and cancer would rob our earthly happiness … joy comes in the morning.
Though the judgment of others and pettiness of associates would seek to steal our integrity … joy comes in the morning.
Though the burdens of daily routines and maintaining a daily existence get too heavy to carry … joy comes in the morning.
Though boredom and tediousness mounts up and becomes bothersome … joy comes in the morning.
Though aches and pains can slow us down … joy comes in the morning.
Though the pettiness of others can creep into our minds and spirits … joy comes in the morning.
Though we can be consumed by our little agendas … joy comes in the morning.
There really isn’t any surprise that resurrection comes in the morning … during the dawning of a new day … the promise from God is that nothing that has been has to continue. God has given a time filled with new possibilities and promises … hope can once again reign supreme … a grace filled existence is being offered once again … and joy can fill our hearts and minds … nothing from yesterday needs to bog us down today. Here is a new offering, a new purpose, a new direction, a new vision, a new reality, a new beginning … and joy has come in the morning and laughter has returned once again to our world and life.
Bruce Larson shares about “a conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they weren't free to say "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord." All through the service balloons ascended, but when it was over 1/3 of the balloons were unreleased. Let your balloon go.” Allow joy to come in the morning … or actually, at any other time during the day. God has a surprise waiting for us!
Quote for today: Joy is the byproduct of obedience. Traditional
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