Joy Cometh in the Morning

by David J. Stewart

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." -Psalm 30:5

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." -Psalm 55:22

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

Life is filled with problems ... some we create for ourselves, some our loved one's create for us, and others which are completely beyond our control.  These are ALL "trials" which TEST our faith.  Anyone can have faith in God during fair weather; BUT, the true TEST of our faith is how we respond during stormy weather, when we can't see our hands in front of our face.  Most Christians have a very weak faith, a shallow faith, a temporary faith; which when the winds of torment arise, they quit and act no better than the heathen.  This is often scene when a spouse decides to divorce because of marriage problems.  This is a total lack of faith in God.  Jesus was willing to give His all for us at Calvary, even though we had never given Him anything!  Christ should be our example during our times of pain, mental anguish, and suffering.  I know the overwhelming feeling of mental anguish.  There's been times in my life when I'd wished I'd never been born.  I know what it's like to feel overwhelming emotional pain, and be unable to do anything about the situation ... every second seems like an hour, and every hour like a day, and every day like a never ending eternity.  I have learned through much unnecessary grief that it's during these times that we need to keep our eyes on the Lord the most.  Do you think God delights in our faith only during the good times, when He knows that we will abandon our faith during the storms?  What kind of loyalty is that to God?  The way you react in adversity is a direct revelation of the type of Christian you are.  Most Christians are carnal, and their perceived faith is false--just a superficial facade.

The Word of God reads in Psalm 30:5, "...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  In other words, there is always light at the end of the tunnel for a Christian.  Even if you have committed a crime, and are spending the remainder of your earthly life behind bars, Heaven awaits you if you have believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.  One way or another, God will one day wipe away all tears and there will be no more pain (Revelation 21:4).  What a day that will be!  Only Jesus Christ can make everything right, when life can seem so wrong at times. 

We are PROMISED in Romans 8:28 that ALL THINGS will "...work together for good..." for every born again Christian.  God says in Verse 30 that he has "called" everyone whom He has predestinated.  It is very important to notice in Verse 29 what God has predestinated every believer to, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..."  God never predestinates (chooses) anyone to salvation; but, He knows in advance who is going to be saved, and predestinates those believers to be conformed to Christ's perfect image.  God had our future planned BEFORE we were ever conceived in the womb.  Jesus said in Matthew 25:34, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."  What a beautiful Scripture!  We can't see the end result of our life; BUT, God can.  It's been said that "hindsight is 20/20."  In other words, everything seems so clear when we look back over the years of our life.  It's easy in retrospect to see our mistakes and failures, our sins and foolish decisions, as well as our good decisions and right decision we made.  The future is uncharted waters.  But praise Jesus, He KNOWS what our future holds, which is why we should trust God, doing our best to live for Him.  Romans 8:28 applies to every believer, whether they be living for the Lord or backslidden.  One way or another, God will work everything together for good.  For the backslidden believer, God will chasten him for his own good (Hebrews 12:6).  Carefully notice in Romans 8:28 that the Bible doesn't say everything good will happen.  No, God promises us that everything will ultimately WORK TOGETHER for good.  No one would want to eat baking powder, sugar, eggs, flour, or salt by itself; BUT, when you put all those ingredients together you get a delicious cake.  Likewise, all of the tragedies and bad experiences in our life WILL work together for good if we have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.

I am often reminded of the words in the song, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" which states, "Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bare...because we do not take it to the Lord in prayer.  "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved" (Psalm 55:22).  We read the same beautiful promise in 1st Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  I used to pray and tell the Lord about my troubles; BUT, nothing seemed to help.  As I grew older, I realized that the help I needed most was in my mind and heart, and the Word of God was the answer.  So often as believers, we pray panicky prayers at the last minute, demanding quick answers from God; BUT, God doesn't work that way.  The Book of Esther in the Bible has helped me to understand my prayer life much better.  Amazingly, God is not mentioned even once in the entire Book of Esther in the Old Testament.  Yet, we beautiful see God's sovereignty and control throughout the entire Book.  The lesson is simple--When you can't see the hand of God, trust the heart of God!  If you feel that God has not been answering your prayers,  then please read the Book of Esther and you will be encouraged by realizing that God works in MYSTERIOUS ways.  My mother used to always say ... "God always works in mysterious ways."  As I grow older, I realize more and more just how right she was.  God doesn't work the way we think He does, or should, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).  Oh listen friend, joy ALWAYS comes in the morning for the Christian, when the Lord will makes everything right; BUT, we must TRUST the Lord, and cast our cares upon Him continually, being patient, and believing His Word.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." -1st Peter 1:7