Joy Comes in the Morning
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
12/27/2022
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
C. S. Lewis wrote, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” This is a great reminder as we wake up each morning and face the new day. Each sunrise brings with it hope that a better day lies before us. Whatever happened yesterday is in the past; today’s script is yet to be written.
Only the gloomiest of cynics wakes up each morning and asks, “What terrible things will befall me today?” The dawn of a new day wonders, “What joys await me?” When relishing a beautiful sunrise, we look toward it not away from it.
New Year’s Day, in all respects, is a day like any other. It is just another flip of the page on our calendars. Yet, there is something about it that seems different from every other day. January 1st beckons us more urgently to look ahead to new beginnings, new opportunities, new people to meet, new adventures to experience, and new memories to create.
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, my thoughts turn to King David and his unparalleled life of victories, tragedies, failures, and successes. Most people readily connect with David’s writings because our lives tell similar stories.
We may never have staved off menacing wolves, killed a giant on the battlefield, won a war, or committed murder, but we can relate to David’s heart cries in the Psalms because we have our own wolves to watch out for, giants to slay, battles to win, and sins to deal with.
In Psalm 30, David reflects on a particular difficult circumstance that he had endured. Sometimes trials are a fact of life, through no fault of our own. They are the result of living in a fallen world under the curse of sin. Other times, we bring hardship on ourselves. In David’s case, his trial was due to his own bad choices. We do not know the specifics of the sin that brought God’s discipline in David’s life, but we get a glimpse at David’s response.
David praised God for the fact that His anger is temporary, but His covenant blessings are permanent. “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Although our loving Father disciplines us, nothing can ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). He wants only the best for His children, and He will fulfill His promises.
True joy comes only through a relationship with God through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ. Have you placed your faith in Jesus, the One who died and rose again to save you from the penalty of sin? If not do so today.
If you already know the Lord Jesus by faith, rest in His promise of joy. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” The Bible tells us, “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19-20, NIV). Whatever trials, difficulties, and heartaches you experienced this past year, let me encourage you to seek the “joy of the morning” as we begin this new year.
12/27/2022
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
C. S. Lewis wrote, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” This is a great reminder as we wake up each morning and face the new day. Each sunrise brings with it hope that a better day lies before us. Whatever happened yesterday is in the past; today’s script is yet to be written.
Only the gloomiest of cynics wakes up each morning and asks, “What terrible things will befall me today?” The dawn of a new day wonders, “What joys await me?” When relishing a beautiful sunrise, we look toward it not away from it.
New Year’s Day, in all respects, is a day like any other. It is just another flip of the page on our calendars. Yet, there is something about it that seems different from every other day. January 1st beckons us more urgently to look ahead to new beginnings, new opportunities, new people to meet, new adventures to experience, and new memories to create.
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, my thoughts turn to King David and his unparalleled life of victories, tragedies, failures, and successes. Most people readily connect with David’s writings because our lives tell similar stories.
We may never have staved off menacing wolves, killed a giant on the battlefield, won a war, or committed murder, but we can relate to David’s heart cries in the Psalms because we have our own wolves to watch out for, giants to slay, battles to win, and sins to deal with.
In Psalm 30, David reflects on a particular difficult circumstance that he had endured. Sometimes trials are a fact of life, through no fault of our own. They are the result of living in a fallen world under the curse of sin. Other times, we bring hardship on ourselves. In David’s case, his trial was due to his own bad choices. We do not know the specifics of the sin that brought God’s discipline in David’s life, but we get a glimpse at David’s response.
David praised God for the fact that His anger is temporary, but His covenant blessings are permanent. “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Although our loving Father disciplines us, nothing can ever separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). He wants only the best for His children, and He will fulfill His promises.
True joy comes only through a relationship with God through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ. Have you placed your faith in Jesus, the One who died and rose again to save you from the penalty of sin? If not do so today.
If you already know the Lord Jesus by faith, rest in His promise of joy. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” The Bible tells us, “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19-20, NIV). Whatever trials, difficulties, and heartaches you experienced this past year, let me encourage you to seek the “joy of the morning” as we begin this new year.
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